The document is a message from the Chair of the Ontario College of Trades informing members about a recent technical review of the College conducted by Tony Dean. It summarizes that Dean received over 100 submissions and met with over 300 tradespeople and stakeholders. It thanks those who participated and says the College will work to strengthen itself based on Dean's recommendations while continuing its mandate. It also provides updates on the College's work in response to the review and ways for members to stay informed.

3. Message
from the Chair
I’d like to take this opportunity to inform our members about the recently completed
technical review of the Ontario College of Trades (the College) by Tony Dean.
On Nov. 20, the College along with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities,
the Honourable Reza Moridi, received Mr. Dean’s recommendations to help address some
technical processes that we all agree could benefit from improvement. Mr. Dean received
109 submissions and held meetings with more than 300 tradespeople, employers and
industry representatives in 11 locations across Ontario. I would like to thank our members
and stakeholders who participated in the review and had their voices heard. I look forward
to continuing this dialogue in the coming months to help us strengthen the College
while continuing to serve Ontario’s tradespeople, and spread the word about the many
opportunities that exist in skilled trades careers.
We are pleased that Mr. Dean endorsed the College’s mandate in his Report, the important
role of our Trade Boards, and the valuable work we do on a daily basis to protect the public
interest, and modernize and promote the skilled trades in Ontario.
We are happy to report that we have already begun to undertake foundational work that
aligns with the direction of some of Mr. Dean’s recommendations.
Given the complexity and importance of getting it right, the College, with input from
our Trade Boards, Divisional Boards and Board of Governors, will work closely with the
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to address the Report in a way that is
effective and practical. Members and stakeholders will be able to follow our progress on our
website, through e-blasts, and in our quarterly magazine – Trades Today. As well, you can
send feedback on the Report to DeanReview@collegeoftrades.ca.
It is important to note that throughout this process the College has and will continue to
fulfill its mandate to protect the public interest, modernize and promote the skilled trades.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we maintain our presence across the province and
demonstrate how an apprenticeship that gives youth the opportunity to earn while they
learn is a great investment in the success of Ontario.
Sincerely,
Pat Blackwood
Chair, Board of Governors
“I would like to
thank our members
and stakeholders who
participated in the
review and had their
voices heard.”

4. 2

6. 4

8. Glowing
effortsLights festivals twinkle with
skilled trade expertise
6
C
ertified electrician Terry Godin has been in the business for
40 years and loves what he does. However, there’s no denying
the one project that “lights” up his work-life more than any
other. In fact, it’s the one he looks forward to all year round–the Owen
Sound’s Festival of Northern Lights.
The Festival of Northern Lights started almost 30 years ago and
Godin, owner of Godin Electric, has been there from the beginning.
“Growing up in a big family I’ve always been a fan of Christmas, and
when I was asked to help out [by the festival committee] I jumped on
it right away,” he says.
Watching this event grow has been part of the excitement for Godin,
who volunteers his services. “It started small and has snowballed over
the years, forgive the pun,” he says. “The first year we just decorated
one side of [Sydenham River] on one city block.”
Today, several electrical service outlets are installed throughout the
25-kilometre route that runs along Owen Sound’s downtown core
and into Harrison Park. These outlets power approximately 300
spotlights, 900 metres of rope lighting and 70,000 light bulbs.
“[I also ensure] that the main power is installed and that all our main
and sub services are controlled by time clocks and lighting contactors
so that they all come off and on automatically during the festival,”
he adds.
Bringing to life the Ontario Power Generation Winter Festival of
Lights, Canada’s largest illumination festival, is no small feat either.
The Niagara Falls festival features more than three million sparkling
lights along a five-kilometre route, among other festivities, such
as the incredible 11-foot tall mammal displays in Niagara Falls’
Dufferin Islands Park.
General contractor Steve Shear, owner of Shear Display in Drumbo,
works with electricians and hoisting operators to construct and power
what looks like a quintessential winter wonderland. Shear shares
Godin’s enthusiasm for the annual holiday project. “It’s a lot more
fun than working on a paved driveway,” he says with a laugh.
Most of the infrastructure work is done by Niagara Parks Commission
in consultation with the Winter Festival of Lights team. Shear’s
involvement starts early, with design and logistics planning. Next is
the approval process and determining electrical requirements, which
is where the skilled trades professionals shine.
One of the most important aspects of any lighting festival is safety,
points out certified electrician Jamie Inglis, who works on the
Wonders of Winter Festival in Waterloo.
“We also have a good group of volunteers that completely understands
their limits when it comes to dealing with electricity,” he says. The
volunteers recognize that safety is the most important consideration
and the vital role of qualified electricians.
A few days before the event opens publically, the Electrical Safety
Authority, led by Inglis, who is a City of Waterloo employee, does a
final inspection of Waterloo Park’s displays.
At the end of the day, those working behind the scenes to bring these
mesmerizing light displays to life can agree that it’s the twinkle in the
eyes of the onlookers that make it all worthwhile.
“I love to see the looks in the kids’ eyes when everything lights up,”
says Godin. Shear echoes that sentiment: “Everybody’s coming to
enjoy it … For me, it’s light, it’s beauty.”

9. Photo credit: WFOL.com

10. W
hile serving in Afghanistan in 2009, Andrew Knisley’s
unfortunate encounter with an improvised explosive
device (IED) left him with an amputated right leg
and confined to a wheelchair. For some former veterans who’ve
experienced debilitating injuries, home can feel more like a prison
than a cozy sanctuary, especially for those with mobility issues.
Last fall Knisley’s Petawawa home was a flurry of construction
activity. For the retired Canadian Armed Forces corporal, this wasn’t
the typical home renovation chaos, but an optimistic experience
and a symbol of a better future. With the help of Renos for Heroes,
a Greater Toronto Area (GTA)-based organization assisting
injured veterans, Knisley would be free to move seamlessly and
independently throughout his home, which is precisely the not-
for-profit’s mission.
Renos for Heroes was founded by Deryl Caruk’s brother Jim,
host of HGTV’s Real Renos and Handyman Superstar Challenge.
Since 2010, the organization has modified the homes of 11 injured
veterans (with two more coming up in 2016), at no cost to the
homeowners, and raised more than $400,000.
“When they come back into the folds of public living, sometimes
they just don’t have the financial means to get a lot of things done.
We want them to feel like they are respected,” says Deryl Caruk.
Projects have ranged from wheelchair-friendly decks, like the
one installed for Knisley, to modified kitchens and bathrooms.
According to the organization, more than 100 Canadian military
personnel have lost limbs since the Afghan mission began in 2002
and hundreds more have been seriously wounded.
“The quality of work is beyond our expectations and the attention
to detail is quite incredible,” says Knisley, who also has a
background in landscape construction. “From what I’m gathering
from the people working on the project, I guess you’d say it’s
mutually beneficial. A lot of them say they want to do something
[and] rather than donating to charity, they like to have a hands-on
[approach] and get to see what they’re actually doing.”
Another benefit is the opportunity to connect with other veterans,
says Mike Humphries, who served 20 years ago and is currently
the business representative for the Carpenter’s District Council of
Ontario (CDC) Local 27. His involvement is typically coordinating
the carpentry side of Renos for Heroes projects.
“I still keep in touch with Chris [Klodt],” he says referring to a
former military corporal whose 22-foot custom woodshop was
built by Renos for Heroes at his home in Flamborough, Ontario.
“We both served at different times in our life, but there’s that bond
of knowing that we both served. I’ve actually been going over and
doing some wood-working projects with him as well.”
Humphries heard about Renos for Heroes about five years ago and
initiated the partnership with CDC. Today, the whole membership
is involved in one way or another – either through donating funds
or volunteering. “They work together as a team to build something,
just like a soldier… and the comradeship is very similar. That’s one
of the things that really drew me into the Carpenter’s Union as
well,” he adds.
Durval Terceira, a business representative for CDC Local 1030, also
plays an instrumental role on that team. He has helped raise more
than $100,000 for Renos for Heroes through an annual walkathon
he began in 2013. “As long as I can walk, I will do the walk,” says
Terreira. “I can’t wait for next year.”
Hammering
for heroes
Tradespeople lend a hand to injured veterans
8
Photos courtesy of Renos for Heroes.

11. Get
Involved
• Renos for Heroes welcomes all
types of support and volunteers.
If you and/or your organization are
interested please contact Deryl Caruk:
(416) 931-1772 or
deryl@renosforheroes.org.
• 5th annual Hearts for Heroes Gala
Feb. 6 at the Mississauga Convention
Centre (75 Derry Rd. West).
For tickets, visit: renosforheroes.org.
Retired Canadian Armed Forces corporal, Andrew Knisley (centre), and the Renos for Heroes crew.
“When they come back into the folds
of public living, sometimes they just
don’t have the financial means to
get a lot of things done. We want
them to feel like they are respected.”
– Deryl Caruk

12. 10

14. 12

15. Starting in January 2016, College membership ID cards and certificates
will have a new look.
Members of the Journeypersons Class, Tradespersons Class, and Employers/Sponsors Class with a renewal
invoice for an expiry within 2016 will be issued a new Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) or Statement
of Membership with room to display eight annual renewal stickers. New apprentices and those in the
Journeypersons Candidates Class will receive a new Statement of Membership, however, annual renewal
stickers will not be issued for these two classifications.
“We heard from members that they would like to see some improvements to the certificate, and we believe this new version provides a more
professional look that individuals will be proud to have on their wall,” says Warren Barbour, Director of Member Services.
Once a member’s payment has been processed, journerpersons and tradespersons will receive new wallet card expiry stickers and a new Ontario
College of Trades wall certificate(s).
A new sticker will be issued annually to members for each trade after their membership payment is made. Members who have already prepaid in
advance for multiple years will receive their credentials when their expiry date approaches, and will also receive the new expiry sticker annually.
For more information, visit collegeoftrades.ca or contact the College’s Client Services Department toll free at 1 (855) 299-0028.
New Red Seal endorsement for
heavy equipment operator trades
New Certificate of Qualification
stickers and membership ID cards
IN
T
ER PRO V I N C
IAL
STA N D A R D
INTE
R P R O V I N
C
IALE
N O R M E
C A N A DA
CINTAJl!ICI CCILL.m:I• Cl.. TIIIACI­
CHICM:m Clm ._,_. a•L"CINTAIIIQ
This card is a Certificate of Qualification or Statement of Membership for the
purposes described under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act,
2009 (the Act). It shall be carried at all times and produced to an authorized
inspector/investigator upon request. This Certificate of Qualification or Statement
of Membership may be canceled, suspended, revoked or made subject to terms,
conditions and limitations in accordance with the Act. Current information
concerning the status of the Certificate of Qualification or Statement of
Membership may be obtained by reviewing the College's public register.
collegeoftrades.ca/public-register
Authorized Signature - Notvalid unless signed
CINTAJl!ICI CCILL.m:I• Cl.. TIIIACI­
CHICM:m Clm ._,_. a•L"CINTAIIIQ
This card is a Certificate of Qualification or Statement of Membership for the
purposes described under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act,
2009 (the Act). It shall be carried at all times and produced to an authorized
inspector/investigator upon request. This Certificate of Qualification or Statement
of Membership may be canceled, suspended, revoked or made subject to terms,
conditions and limitations in accordance with the Act. Current information
concerning the status of the Certificate of Qualification or Statement of
Membership may be obtained by reviewing the College's public register.
collegeoftrades.ca/public-register
Authorized Signature - Notvalid unless signedExpires
November
2015
Expires
November
2015 Expires
November
2015
Ex
Nov
20
The first ever Interprovincial Red Seal exams for the heavy equipment operator trades are expected to be
available in Ontario this summer. Once released, individuals will be able to get a Red Seal Endorsement
(RSE) on their Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) in the following three trades:
• Heavy equipment operator – dozer (636C)
• Heavy equipment operator – excavator (636B)
• Heavy equipment operator – tractor loader backhoe (636A)
Once the Red Seal exams are implemented for the three heavy equipment
operator trades, the provincial C of Q will no longer be available. At that
time, all individuals interested in obtaining a C of Q will be required to
write and pass the Interprovincial Red Seal exam.
Effectively immediately, and prior to the release of the Red Seal heavy
equipment operator exams in Ontario, the following opportunities are
available:
• Holders of a Certificate of Apprenticeship issued by the Ministry of
Training, Colleges and Universities in any of the heavy equipment
operator trades can apply to become members of the College’s
Journeypersons Class and be issued a provincial C of Q without
passing a C of Q exam.
• Individuals who are approved through the College’s Trade
Equivalency Assessment (TEA) can apply to become members of
the College’s Journeypersons Class and be issued a provincial C of Q
without being required to write the C of Q exam. To be eligible for
the TEA, 2,500 applicable trade hours are required.
Following the release of the Red Seal exams, individuals interested in
joining the College who do not want to write the exam also have the
opportunity to apply to become members of the Tradespersons Class.
The introduction of the RSE does not impact the voluntary status of any
of the heavy equipment operator trades; holding and maintaining a valid
C of Q remains voluntary for these trades.
For more information, visit collegeoftrades.ca or contact the College’s
Client Services Department toll free at 1 (855) 299-0028.
Reminder: February 2, 2016 is the deadline for the Sprinkler and Fire Protection
Installer exam exemption. Visit collegeoftrades.ca for more information.

16. 14
The College’s Tune In, Trade Up campaign is getting youth excited about the skilled
trades. Through the lens of the music industry, the College is showcasing how
vital the skilled trades are to the success of music festivals across Ontario. There
are dozens of skilled trades associated with live music events: heavy equipment
operators, general carpenters, electricians, truck and coach technicians, cooks,
hairstylists and many others.
“We want Ontario’s youth to know there are many opportunities within the skilled
trades — whether it’s related to music or other exciting industries. The key is to
let them discover the many rewarding career choices that can combine their
passion with the chance to earn while they learn,” says Sherri Haigh, Director of
Communications and Marketing at the College.
As part of the Tune In, Trade Up campaign, Universal Music Canada generously
sponsored two tickets and a meet and greet with Canadian band HEDLEY.
Congratulations to winner Ilija Pereira for winning this prize! Thank you to Music
Canada Live and Republic Live for their support.
Visit BootsandHearts.com for upcoming opportunities with the Boots and Hearts
festival.
Follow the College on Twitter (@CollegeofTrades) and Instagram (collegeoftrades)
for updates, events and future contests for a chance to win prizes and other
giveaways.