The Wellington Catholic District School Board homebuild program has completed another framing for Reid’s Heritage Homes.
This is the high school program’s 11th year and the second time a home has been framed in Fergus in the development west of Highway 6 south, across from Zehrs.
The homebuild is a one-semester course where up to 15 students spend four hours every morning for a semester on the construction site building the frame of a house.
“When we get here there’s just a concrete foundation and then we frame all the walls, the floor system, we install the stairs, we install the windows and doors and then we assist with the roof,” explained Brian Andres, technology department head at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School and homebuild teacher.
“And then when other trades come on site, the electrical or the plumbing, we assist them with the rough in of the electrical and the plumbing.”
The homebuild is open to Grade 11 and 12 students from Bishop Macdonell, Our Lady of Lourdes and St. James Catholic high schools.
Andres said 60 students have already applied for next year. They will be interviewed and the schools will place as many as possible in the three related programs, the homebuild, a renovation class and a dual credit program with Conestoga College in trades such as electrical and plumbing – all of which can accommodate up to 15 students.
Andres is a carpenter by trade but it’s the relationship with Reid’s Heritage Homes that really allows the program to occur.
“Reid’s really makes sure that they’re ready for us … everything … we need when we show up is ready to go,” he said. “Lumber is here when we need it, supervision, first aid, safety training, everything is all in place.”
Brian Reid from Reid’s Heritage Homes said programs like this ensure there are skilled labourers in a time when there is a trades shortage and many skilled trade professionals are reaching retirement age.
“The benefit is to see that the construction industry continues after we retire,” Reid said. “We want them to have the opportunity that we had, to swing the hammer to know what it is, this is a home.”
Andres said the program not only teaches students about the trade, it also gives them the skills employers are looking for in any field.
“We teach them how to frame a house but we teach them a lot of employment skills so that they’re ready to go and they know what it takes to work out here,” he said.
