Elevating Devices Program Coordinator, Alan Bennink, and student, Melissa Brosnan work on an elevator control panel .

Mohawk College is one of just two colleges in the province offering a two-year diploma that trains future elevating devices mechanics 

With the significant demand for housing, and buildings and cities only getting taller, a lot rides on developing the skills of future elevating devices mechanics to serve the vertical transportation industry. 

Mohawk College’s Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship offers a two-year Mechanical Technician - Elevating Devices diploma program and an Elevating Devices Mechanic Apprenticeship program. 

The programs cover all aspects of training, including electrical, electronics, programmable-logic-controllers, hydraulics and mechanics, that are required for installing, maintaining and servicing elevating devices. 

A third cohort is now finishing the diploma program, bringing the total to about 100 students graduating from the program launched in 2020. Mohawk has also offered the in-school training for apprentices in the field since 2019. 

Mohawk College, one of Ontario’s largest educators in skilled trades, is among only two colleges in the province, along with Durham College, offering a diploma in the field and one of just two non-union delivery agents in Canada approved to offer the apprenticeship. 

It’s important to attract people from all walks of life, says Isowa.

“Mohawk College puts a great deal of effort into reaching diverse groups, including young people in high school, people from diverse backgrounds, women and girls, and second-career learners to introduce them to skilled trades careers, like Elevating Devices Mechanic, that they may never have thought of,” she says.

Alan Bennink, Program Coordinator of Elevating Devices, who teaches alongside five other faculty members, says the industry is booming, including on the residential front.

“Ground costs money, and houses, like most other buildings, are going higher and higher. As people get older, many don't want to climb stairs anymore. When you have a three- or four-storey house, at minimum, you want a dumbwaiter to carry stuff, but in a lot of cases, you probably want a full elevator to take you up and down. As a result, the demand for private residence elevators has grown substantially.”

The housing crisis, which will require more dense, multi-level housing, along with expanding transportation, healthcare and office infrastructure, will all result in more demand for skilled labour to build, install and maintain elevators and escalators.

All that construction also requires hoist devices to carry materials and workers up and down.

The College’s large Elevating Devices Mechanics Lab is equipped with three working elevators, an escalator, accessibility lifts and elevator controls. Much of the equipment has been donated by industry partners. Students in the program also have access to electrical, electronics and hydraulics labs.

Graduates are being trained to work in the maintenance and repair sector, as well as for elevator and parts manufacturers and installation companies. The program can also lead to sales or inspection jobs.

Annually, more than 100 post-secondary students and apprentices are studying through Mohawk College’s elevating devices programs.

Bennink, who came to Mohawk College about five years ago after a 23-year career in the industry, says elevators are sophisticated devices that rely on computer controls and electronics.

“I usually say most elevator mechanics do more complicated electrical work than about 50 per cent of the electricians out there. And it’s work that people rely on for their safety.”

Bennink says there are great careers, locally, nationally and internationally, to be found in the elevator industry.

“I don’t know anybody who has left the trade after becoming fully licensed. There is a high retention rate and six-figure in salaries. For me, it’s been a great career. It gave me variety, challenges to solve and the ability to work on my own and earn at a high level.”

With the program being so new, survey data about post-graduate employment is limited, but Bennink says he’s learned through conversations with students that roughly half of them secure jobs with regional companies before they even graduate.

Finlay Rae, who graduated from Mohawk’s Elevating Devices Mechanic diploma program in April 2023, now works as an apprentice with Delta Elevator, covering the territory from Brantford to Windsor.

Like many, Rae, 20, was hired before finishing his diploma. He says he knew in high school that he wanted to work in trades.

“I was better with my hands and at thinking more mechanically,” he says. One of his guidance counsellors had taught someone who became an elevator mechanic and when Rae looked into it, he was interested.

“You get to do something different every day and there is so much to learn.”

Mohawk College is helping to address a huge industry need.

Recent government employment data projected as many as 700 job openings in the elevating devices field from 2021 to 2025 — just in Ontario — with half of those being new positions.

A 2018 provincial taskforce report determined a shortage of mechanics is leading to poor maintenance and long elevator outages. Just one in five elevators in the province met all safety requirements.

As well, provincial legislation now requires that elevators return to service within 14 days, and within seven days in long-term care facilities and seniors’ residences.

“Elevators are definitely an important mode of transportation. And I think we're so used to elevators that we forget they are a mode of transportation just like a car, and they need to be maintained,” says Melissa Brosnan, a second-semester Elevating Devices Mechanic student.

Melissa Brosnan reviews schematics as she services one of the lab's elevators.

“They need to be running, and they need to be fixed on time because people depend on them. When an elevator breaks, people still need to go up and down. So it's definitely a very, very important trade.”

Brosnan is immersed in learning the basics and theory behind elevators and their maintenance and repair. It’s a fascinating career change for Brosnan, who had been working as a funeral director for a little more than 10 years.

“It’s a big change but it’s an exciting one. It's definitely challenging, but I'm learning a lot and gaining valuable experience.”

Brosnan says she was drawn to the program because of the job opportunities in the field, driven by looming mass retirements.

“There are so many places to grow, whether you're working in the field, or you're selling or inspecting, even consulting, so I thought it was a good opportunity to get an education in a field that’s seeing growth and development.”

After deciding she wanted to pursue a trade, Brosnan did research, talking to people working in different fields, including a friend working on elevators. She found out about Mohawk College’s program and applied at the last minute. She makes the trip in each day from Toronto.

“The trade is booming right now and it's a good time to get into it."

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

Instructor Darren Hyland (black shirt) along with Construction Engineering Technician – Building Renovation program students Jeron Melville, Jack Donald and Han Shao.

Students in Mohawk College’s Construction Engineering Technician – Building Renovation program have spent two semesters making two CityHousing Hamilton townhouses fit for new tenants. 

Mohawk College and CityHousing Hamilton have once again partnered on a project that is renovating city-owned units to allow for move in by people in need of affordable housing. 

The program’s students began work on two townhouse units on the west Mountain in the first week of October. 

Once complete, the newly remodeled units will see families on the CityHousing waiting list get the safe and affordable housing they need. 

The 65 students, in their final year of the Construction Engineering Technician – Building Renovation program, split their time between their shop and lab at the Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship at the Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades. 

The students are required to finish 112 hours of hands-on work to complete their two-year program. 

These real-life projects give the students an opportunity to work in a environment where floors aren’t quite level, door frames are not straight and they have to work within a timeline and budget. 

“What better way is there to get them on the tools in a real-life situation?” says Mohawk College faculty member Darren Hyland, who teaches the third-semester Building and Renovation - Practical course. 

“They get all the experience of a job site and learn what it's  like dealing with clients.” 

The students have done everything from taking the lead on inspecting the property and assessing the work to be done to demolition of kitchens and bathrooms to installing flooring, drywall, baseboards and cabinets, and painting. 

Mohawk College received federal funding from the Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative and the Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) iHUB to support the partnership with CityHousing. The funds supply the students with CSA safety boots, high-visibility long-sleeve shirts, construction safety glasses, dexterity gloves, hearing protection, and N95 respirators. 

“There is a great feeling of satisfaction with this and the students understand it too,” says Hyland. “Families in need will live here soon.” 

Joewayne Watson is working in the three-bedroom unit. He had been working as a personal support worker when he decided to build on some experience in the renovation sector by returning to Mohawk College. 

Joewayne Watson, Student, repairs a damaged wall in one of the units.

Students complete a daily journal entry that includes before and after photos, how the team worked together, and what comes next. Instructors also evaluate specific tasks. 

Andres Orjuela is working at a four-bedroom unit a few doors down. 

He is an international student from Colombia who has a background in industrial design and was attracted by the structure of the program. 

Andres Orjuela, Student, prepares a to install hardware on a newly installed door.

“Seeing the final results here will be awesome. I know people who have lived in affordable housing, so it feels good to give good units to someone who really needs it.” 

CityHousing is the largest provider of social housing in Hamilton, managing 1,100 properties and 6,974 units that house more than 13,000 tenants across the city. 

There is a backlog  of vacant units in need of repair, says Brian Kinaschuk, head of the maintenance unit at CityHousing. Budget restrictions, the City’s procurement process, and the state of disrepair in some of the units makes it difficult to address the backlog even during a time when the wait list is thousands deep. 

The partnership with Mohawk College, and another with Habitat for Humanity that sees high school students working on units, allows CityHousing to get units back out for rent faster than it could otherwise, Kinaschuk says. 

“Mohawk College is an important part of the solution,” he says. “The partnership is valuable to our community because tenants can get into these units more quickly and also for the students because they get hands-on learning.” 

Since 2009, Building Renovation Program students have worked on projects with several local organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Indwell, Delta United Church, Christian Horizons, and Kiwanis. 

The CityHousing partnership comes out of CityLAB Hamilton, an innovation hub that brings together students and academic and civic leaders to co-create a better Hamilton. Mohawk College is a partner in CityLAB, along with the City of Hamilton, McMaster University, and Redeemer University. 

CityLAB matches students and faculty with City staff to develop innovative solutions to city-identified projects that align with the City’s strategic priorities. That includes transit, climate change, housing, cycling infrastructure and green spaces. 

Since it was founded in 2017, CityLAB has undertaken 220 projects, involving 3,122 students – including 1,449 students from Mohawk College. Those students have amassed more than 32,500 hours.  

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

10 Mohawk College students are among the first recipients of scholarships of $20,000-$40,000 from the prestigious Schulich Foundation.

10 students at Mohawk College – and 100 at 10 colleges in Ontario – are the first group of recipients of the Schulich Builders Scholarships for Skilled Trades.

The scholarships provide $20,000 for one-year certificate students and $40,000 for those pursuing two-year diplomas, covering tuition, tools and living expenses. Schulich Builders, as they are called, get access to leadership training, mentorship, career planning and networking opportunities.

The vision – similar to the Schulich Leaders scholarship program in STEM programs at the university level – aims to grow a network of ambassadors and advocates for the skilled trades.

Schulich Builders is the Schulich Foundation’s first foray into supporting college students. The Foundation, founded by Seymour Schulich, has donated in excess of $350 million to postsecondary institutions and to education access programs.

Mohawk College and nine other Ontario colleges chosen to be part of the program awarded five $20,000 and five $40,000 scholarships this year.

“We are so excited to be among the small group welcoming the first Schulich Builders,” says Katie Burrows, Vice President of Students, International and Alumni. “We are grateful to the Schulich Foundation for putting its faith in Mohawk College and in the college system in general. With the help of our donors, alumni, and premium partners, we are committing to deliver for our students and the community.”

She says 45 per cent of Mohawk College students report that financial pressure represents the greatest barrier to the completion of their education.

The scholarship is open to high school, mature and second-career students. Recipients are chosen by a committee at the receiving colleges.

Based on their letters of support, applicants are evaluated on work ethic, integrity, aptitude and interest in the skilled trades, along with financial need.

Schulich Builders offers an unmatched opportunity on many fronts, says Lorna Somers, Executive Director of the Mohawk College Foundation. 

“The Schulich Foundation is one of the most generous philanthropic organizations in our country. How wonderful that we can now add Mohawk College students to those benefitting from the Schulich Foundation’s response to a crisis for our country. ”

Mohawk College: “The gold standard”

When the leaders at the Schulich Foundation realized that the incredible opportunities, salaries and career paths within the skilled trades weren’t translating into more young people entering those programs in colleges, they decided they could make a difference, says David Goodman, Vice President at the Schulich Foundation.

“We were just scratching our heads. Why aren’t more high school students considering the skilled trades? Many are going into fields with a much lower ability to make a high wage. We feel it’s because of a lack of awareness of the opportunities.”

The Foundation reached out to colleges and collected data, finding that many skilled trades programs are not at full enrollment and apprenticeship and journeyperson paths are not promoted as much as they should be.

“This signalled to us that we could be advocates and champions of the skilled trades as a viable and rewarding career path.”

A prestigious scholarship program will hopefully change perceptions for students, parents and educators, says Goodman. A worsening skilled trades shortage is especially dire at a time of a housing crisis and the critical need to shift to a low-carbon economy.

“And we are seeing a massive disruption to the future of work from AI (artificial intelligence). It means that many professional roles that have traditionally been aspired to by young people are seeing huge downsizing worldwide. The skilled trades is work that isn’t done by software.”

Goodman has very high praise for Mohawk College, calling it “the gold standard” and a “massive asset for Ontario and Canada.”

“It is at the top of the skilled trades game. It has incredible facilities, faculty and leadership. If we could sprinkle what happens at Mohawk College across the country, we would go a long way to addressing this shortage. It feels kind of magical in a way.”

Somers says there are many leaders within and outside Canada who are proud to have been trained in Schulich schools and faculties or who have benefitted from a Schulich Leaders Scholarship.

“They are all recognized by their training as being exceptional leaders, and committed to giving back and changing the world we live in.”

Up close with two Schulich Builders

Mackenzie Booker applied this summer for a one-year Construction Techniques certificate carpentry program at Mohawk College. She was working as a 
carpentry labourer in the Yukon at the time and decided it was something she wants to pursue as a career.

But Booker, 22, wasn’t sure she could afford to go back to school full time.

She got an email from Mohawk College that listed scholarships and bursaries and decided to apply for the Schulich Builders program.

“I was really surprised to get it. I didn’t think there was a chance that would happen,” says Booker, who lives in Woodstock with her mother and grew up in Windham Centre. She didn’t tell anyone she was going to college until she also shared she was receiving the scholarship.

“This takes a lot of the stress off me financially and will help me focus on school.” She plans to enter a two-year diploma program following her certificate and to eventually pursue a Red Seal designation. She most enjoys the framing side of carpentry.

“I like being there at the beginning of the build and I like to work outside, too.”

Booker says she already feels connected to the Schulich Builders network and looks forward to the doors it will open for her.

“It’s really cool to be part of this.”

Ben Wernaart of St. Williams, Ont. was also surprised to win a scholarship. He was awarded $40,000 for a two-year diploma in Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation (Industrial Mechanic Millwright).

“I couldn’t believe it when I opened the email. I was kind of in shock for a minute. I read it through again and then I called my mom.”

Wernaart decided to come to Mohawk College after three years at another college. He heard good things from a friend about the Manufacturing Engineering

Wernaart, who has Type 1 diabetes, says the scholarship also gives him the freedom to focus on his health because he’ll have time to go to the gym and get enough sleep.

The 22-year-old plans to pursue a career as a millwright and says the skilled trades offer amazing opportunities. “If you’re hard-working  and willing to listen and learn, there is so much room to move up quickly. There can be a fast progression in your career.”

Wernaart knows that earning the scholarship will open doors. “I don’t have to worry about anything else but doing well here. I will learn everything I can and hit the ground running when I graduate.” 

2023 Schulich Builders Scholarship Recipients

Mackenzie Booker is a recipient of the $20,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A resident of Woodstock, Ontario, Booker is studying in the Construction Techniques program this fall.

Ben Wernaart is a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A resident of St. Williams, Ontario, Wernaart has entered the Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation program this fall.

Ayden D’Orio, of Milton, Ontario, is a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School in Milton, D’Orio has entered the Manufacturing Engineering Technician – Automation program this fall.

Caleb Kiprutto, of Burlington, Ontario, is a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of Burlington’s Aldershot School, Kiprutto will be studying in the Electrical Engineering Technician – Power program this fall.

Rajae Richards, of Oakville, Ontario, is a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of Oakville Trafalgar HighSchool, Richards is studying the Building Renovation Technician program this fall.

Isaac Shaw, of Smithville, Ontario, is a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School in Grimsby, Ontario, Shaw will be studying the Manufacturing Engineering Technician - Automation program this fall.

Ryan Cassalman, of Trenton, Ontario, is a recipient of the $20,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of Trenton High School, Cassalman is studying in the Construction Techniques program this fall.

Tanner Mifsud is a recipient of the $20,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A resident of Ancaster, Ontario, Mifsud is studying Heating, Refrigeration & A/C Techniques this fall.

Nathan Morris, of Milton, Ontario, is a recipient of the $20,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School in Milton, Morris is studying in the Construction Techniques – Plumbing program this fall.

Tyler Weir is a recipient of the $20,000 Schulich Builders Scholarship. A resident of Brantford, Ontario, Weir is studying Heating, Refrigeration & A/C Techniques this fall.

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

Homebuilder Steve Stipsits of Branthaven Homes is backing a five-year initiative through City School by Mohawk.

A distinguished alumnus is supporting City School by Mohawk and skilled trades training and recruitment at the college with a $1-million donation.

Steve Stipsits, president of local homebuilder Branthaven Homes, says the ongoing housing and housing affordability crisis cannot be solved unless the skilled trades shortage is addressed.

“There is an acute shortage already and a major wave of retirements is about to begin. We can’t build the housing we need without the skilled trades.”

Stipsits, who made the donation along with his wife, Elizabeth, says investing in City School will get more people trained – up to 1,200 individuals – while also tackling engrained poverty in some of the most vulnerable neighbourhoods in Hamilton.

The nationally recognized City School model, which offers tuition-free programs, breaks down barriers and makes postsecondary education accessible to those who need it most, says Stipsits.

“It’s the greatest vehicle I have ever seen to break the cycle of multigenerational poverty.”

Branthaven’s donation with matched funding from Mohawk College’s partnerships and government funding allows for a $2-million, five-year workforce development plan to create and accelerate educational and employment pathways for people in marginalized communities into the residential construction sector.

The investment means more students will be able to access the training and resources that can lead to meaningful, family-sustaining careers in the skilled trades.

“City School is the first step, a point of entry into what can be a direct career path or ongoing education or apprenticeship training,” says Emily Ecker, Associate Dean of Community Partnerships and Learning.

City School has trained more than 4,000 students since its 2015 inception.

Stipsits, who graduated from the Architectural Technology program at Mohawk College in 1984, has been named a Distinguished Alumnus and a Distinguished Fellow of Mohawk College. He now leads Branthaven, which was founded by his parents Albert and Judith, in 1971.

“I have a strong affinity for Mohawk College. I never cease to be amazed at how many at Mohawk College are doing the right thing. They go the extra mile to help people in our community. They see a need and step up to help.”

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

Cross-country runner Matias Tessel and basketball guard Stefan Anisko balanced varsity athletics with their studies in Aviation.

Two Aviation Maintenance students made big contributions this past season as Mohawk Mountaineers varsity athletes.

Cross-country athlete Matias Tessel has qualified two years in a row for the national championships and was named both seasons to the all-Ontario second team. In 2021, the team finished with a bronze in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) and last year, finished fifth in the OCAA.

Tessel only began running cross-country three years ago when he decided in 2020 to transfer to Mohawk College. For the two previous years, he had been a sprinter at Wilfrid Laurier University.

“It is a different type of training to go from sprinting to cross-country. The transition was difficult at first and I got injured from over-training. I’m a very competitive person and I just went too hard.”

Tessel, who is from Guelph, says he had to adjust to committing more time to training each week.

“We run 8 kilometres. We do hills and forests, generally in a 2-kilometre loop. That requires building endurance and strength.”

It’s tough to balance varsity athletics with an intense, hands-on program, but Tessel says he managed through concentrating on time management. That included studying ahead, waking up early to run in the morning or squeezing a run in on his lunch break.

Tessel, who is captain of his team, is a “valuable teammate and a very important part of this department,” says Athletics Director Matt Ferreira.

The team of six men and four women trains year-round under coach David Hopton, who coaches triathletes at McMaster University. There is a new high-performance focus in an effort to become one of the elite cross-country schools in the country.

Stefan Anisko, a first-year Mountaineer basketball player, loves the hands-on work in Aviation Maintenance and the state-of-the-art facility at the Hamilton International Airport.

“It’s a great program and I’m really enjoying it. And we had a great season on the court, so it’s a win-win. My teammates are fantastic and I had a lot of fun.”

Anisko, who is at Mohawk College on a basketball scholarship, also had a great year. Men’s basketball finished the season with a 14-4 record, second-best in the OCAA West Division, and won the OCAA bronze medal. Anisko was awarded the OCAA Sixth Man of the Year award and was named to the OCAA All-Rookie Team after averaging 20 points per game (seventh-best in the OCAA). He also shot 40 per cent from three (eighth-best in the OCAA) and made 46 threes (seventh-best in the OCAA).

“Stefan had an incredible year and made a major impact as a rookie,” says Ferreira.

The team, coached for 16 years by Mohawk graduate and former Mountaineer varsity basketball player Brian Jonker, last won the CCAA national title in 2012.

Anisko’s schedule was intense. Classes run every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and then he had 90-minute practice four days a week and a weekly workout in the weight room. And once, sometimes twice a week, there were away games, which can be hours away.

“As long as I stayed on top of things, I could manage it. My instructors were very helpful. They were always available and so were my coaches.”

Anisko, who lives in Caledonia, says he enjoyed the travel time to away games because it meant more bonding time with his teammates.

“We are more than a team. We are more like a family.”

Tessel graduates in May but has decided to come back in the fall in order to run another cross-country season.

The College supports its athletes in many ways, says Tessel, including buying professional software that tracks training and performance and providing access to a mental performance coach. He says having a smaller roster of sports at Mohawk College is a strength.

“It’s a small community and everyone knows each other. The high-performance focus means everyone is working together to win.” 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.

A new Bachelor of Business Administration-Trades Management is a three-way collaboration between Mohawk, George Brown and Algonquin colleges.

Mladen Ivankovic learned about Mohawk College’s new Bachelor of Business Administration-Trades Management program through a LinkedIn post. He was immediately intrigued and contacted a dean at Mohawk. He was granted entry into the fourth semester in September 2022 based on his previous diploma.

BBA-Trades is a degree completion program in collaboration with George Brown, Algonquin and Mohawk colleges. Those with apprenticeship/journeyperson training, or trade-related diploma programs are eligible for advanced standing.

“It is exactly what I was looking for. I’m looking at expanding my career development into project management and handling budgets and timelines and I want to know more about the corporate finance and accounting side so that I can get into management.”

The program focuses on the business administration, managerial, accounting, project management, leadership, communication, application of data to make decisions and applied research competencies needed by people working in or with the skilled trades to grow their own businesses, take on greater responsibilities in their current work environments, or pursue management careers.

“It’s a great program. The advantages of having three colleges involved is that there is a broader spectrum of instructors who are involved. These are experts in their fields.”

Ivankovic says the program is demanding but practical.

“We came to Canada as refugees from Serbia. I learned a lot from my parents about perseverance. They had to rebuild their lives in a new country with two young children.”

His father was an assembly line worker at Ford in Oakville and his mother – a nurse in Serbia – studied at Mohawk College to become an RN in Canada.

“She balanced it all, so I know I can. My parents are my mentors and my idols. I have so many opportunities in front of me because of them.”

Ivankovic was working at Ford when he quit to go to Mohawk for Electrical Engineering Technology. He graduated in 2018 before working for an electrical company in Chatham and then as an engineering services technician at Burlington Hydro in 2020.

“With a full-time job, it’s a challenging workload. Time management is critical. You have to stay on top of things. You can’t fall behind. It’s achievable if I set time aside for studying.”

That means waking up at about 4 a.m. and working well past dinner to fit it all in. He also studies hard on weekends.

Ivankovic has his eyes set on doing an accelerated Masters of Business Administration at McMaster.

“This program is giving me the education background that will grow my career.” 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine. 

The Centre for Aviation Technology at Hamilton International Airport (YHM) has already established a reputation for excellence in its facilities, equipment and faculty knowledge less than two years after its opening. 

Built in conjunction with KF Aerospace’s expansion of its Hamilton maintenance, repair and operations, the state-of-the-art facility is home for Mohawk College's Aviation Technician programs in maintenance, structures and avionics and has airside access at one of the country’s most active airports. 

The new centre, which has airside access at one of the country’s most active airports, has allowed the College to double enrolment in its aviation program to 350 students. 
All three streams of Mohawk College’s Aviation program are in growth mode. 

“We have grown to be the fifth-largest aviation school in the country and we have our eye on going higher,” says George Miltenburg, Associate Dean, School of Engineering Technology and Aviation. 

The 75,000-square-foot complex, which opened in February 2021, is a critical piece of that ambition. It features modern labs, shops, classrooms, and a large hangar space where students work on nearly 20 aircraft. 

“It is a fantastic, purpose-built facility that offers airside access at the airport. It allows us to give our students more hands-on time in the labs and in the hangar working on real aircraft. Our students will emerge even more prepared for the workforce and the word is already out among employers. Our graduates will be more highly sought after than ever before.” 

The program has a range of aircraft that have been donated by industry partners, including a fully operational Boeing 727-200, an Ornge Sikorski helicopter, and a Falcon corporate jet. 

The three streams have a shared core first year, which means graduates of one stream can finish another in a year. They each combine theory and hands-on practice using cutting-edge training equipment and aircraft. 

Students get between 12 and 18 months credit toward their practical work experience required for licence certification through Transport Canada. 

Being located right at the airport offers an unparalleled real-world experience to students and offers ready access to the aviation program’s 30 faculty. 

“Many of our part-time instructors are working at maintenance, repair and overhaul companies right at the airport. They walk over to teach,” says Miltenburg. “They come from all over the world and are experienced on all types of aircraft.” 

Mohawk is the only school in Canada with the Boeing 737 NG virtual maintenance trainer and is the only college in North America with more than a few software seats. Mohawk has 11 seats of the expensive software that is used by Boeing itself to train and type certify its technicians to work on the world’s most common aircraft. 

“It has been an incredible windfall for the program that is paying dividends for our maintenance and avionics students,” says Miltenburg. 

Mohawk maintenance and avionics students graduate with 100 hours of training on the virtual trainer. Faculty set up a “snag” scenario that students have to investigate and solve. 
“They have to logically move through all the aircraft systems and understanding the FIM (fault isolation manuals) to find the cause and address it,” says Shawn Hoyle, an aviation professor and the person responsible for training through Transport Canada. 

“That teaches them the methodology and they are evaluated on that. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Unlike other programs, our students develop very strong troubleshooting skills.” 

In the avionics stream, students work on a glass cockpit conversion in which they replace a late 1980s cockpit on a donated King Air aircraft with modern Garmin flat screens. Students handle everything, from electrical drawings to vendor selection to project management. 

“We couldn’t do this without the support of industry partners who donate equipment but also ensure we are teaching the very latest in skills,” says Miltenburg. 

Mohawk College aviation graduates are snapped up by employers across Canada and around the world in an industry facing huge talent shortages. 

For instance, KF Aerospace – Canada’s largest MRO operator – offered jobs to every Structures graduate earlier this year. 

“Industry is knocking down our door and visiting our classrooms to talk to our students. That includes the Canadian Armed Forces, which is offering incentive packages. Some companies are offering $10,000 signing bonuses,” says Hoyle. 

Mohawk is targeting growth for its aviation through both domestic and international enrolment. 

“The Canadian licence is well-recognized around the world, so that is very helpful to us. Students can very easily return home or go elsewhere in the world to find work.” 

For more than 60 years, Halifax-based IMP Aerospace and Defence has offered maintenance, modification and repair services to military, government and commercial operators. 

IMP, which also operates in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, delivers major modification and maintenance programs for Canadian military planes and helicopters and for the U.S. Marine Corps. It also takes care of the Snowbirds’ CT 114 Tutor aircraft. 

The landing of new contracts means the company is in a recruiting drive, says Neil Harding, Director of Aircraft Production and IMP’s person responsible for maintenance through Transport Canada. 

“We have a huge need for talent right now. As we bid on modification programs, we continue to need new people.” 

He has visited the Mohawk Centre for Aviation Technology to meet with students. He says the sector offers exciting, well-paying jobs and the opportunity to earn extra qualifications that lead to higher salaries. 

The company employs about 1,000 people. Its staffing in Halifax will grow by about 20 per cent over the next year. 

Harding says he began in the industry as an avionics technician 16 years ago. He now leads a team of 250 technicians working on multiple maintenance programs. 

“It has been a great career path for me. We offer many opportunities for anyone who wants to learn and grow. No one is limited to turning tools.” 

Harding says IMP is excited about its growing partnership with Mohawk. 

“The College is very open to feedback and working with us to meet our needs. The new facility is really, really impressive. I have visited many different schools and Mohawk’s facility is second to none.” 

Denis Ranque completed the Aircraft Maintenance program in 2018 and has now returned to Mohawk for a year to complete the Avionics program. 

He has been employed by Lake Central Air Services in Gravenhurst, which specializes in repairs, maintenance and modifications to survey aircraft. Ranque, who has his commercial pilot’s licence, wants to broaden his skill set to allow him to work on electronics systems. 

He came to Canada from his home in Bolivia in order to follow his passion for aviation at Mohawk. He says he’s driven by the processes and procedures that ensure safety of aircraft. 

“I felt very well-prepared by my time at Mohawk. The faculty is so up to date in the industry and they always go above and beyond for their students. They’re really there for us.” 

He says he was awed by the new facility when he returned in September. 

“I feel so fortunate to learn in such an environment. It is state-of-the-art.” 
 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine. 

When the leaders at Branthaven Homes decided about a year ago they had to confront their labour shortage challenge head on, they turned to Mohawk College. 

The construction industry pays well and offers great career advancement opportunities, says Andrea Peckart, Vice President of Homeowner Relations. 

But it’s a day-to-day struggle to get workers on sites. Subtrades are dealing with their own staffing challenges and it’s not uncommon to hire a labourer who only shows up for a couple of days. 

The industry faces waves of retirement at a time when not enough young people are choosing trades, making this partnership critical in the short term and long term, says Peckart. 

The strategic collaboration with the Burlington-based homebuilder has multiple components, beginning with a survey of needs and challenges within the industry and then a workshop to explore potential solutions for recruitment and retention. 

Now an action plan is being formulated to connect and engage with future and prospective employees through open houses and job fairs and for a full review of all construction curriculum at the college. 

“We’ve been impressed with how engaged and receptive Mohawk is to working with us on workforce development and to making sure they are teaching what students need right now in the industry,” says Peckart, who is daughter of Branthaven founders Al and Judy Stipsits. 

“Branthaven knows the entire sector needs support and they are willing to be a leader in finding solutions alongside Mohawk College,” says Samara Young, Associate Dean of Building Systems and Sustainability. That portfolio covers 17 programs at the Marshall School of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship in Stoney Creek. 

“We are being responsive to the sector by taking a bigger, broader look at customized partnerships. We can do so much more when we work together.” 

A priority is to break negative perceptions of trades among educators, guidance counsellors and parents. 

“We have to change the stigma. Skilled trades shouldn’t be a fallback position but rather a goal,” says Sean Wadsworth, Branthaven’s Vice President of Homebuilder Operations. 

It’s critical to attract women. 

“Fifty per cent of the population aren’t really in the trades. Bringing the proportion of women up to the proportion of men in the industry would solve this problem in a broad stroke. Of course, that’s going to take time.” 

About half of the managers at Branthaven are women and the company is focused on spreading the message that construction is a welcoming place for women at all levels, says Peckart. 

Young says employers need support to adjust their recruitment and hiring operations to attract women, newcomers, international students and other equity-deserving groups. 

“Employers want to learn about equity, diversity and inclusion. They understand they are part of the solution. We can help them drill down to the students’ perspective, ask the tough questions and look clearly at the barriers that are in place. That is where we will get results.” 

Branthaven has already been working with City School by Mohawk on short-term training for those from underserved and marginalized groups to put them on a path to post-secondary education, apprenticeship or meaningful employment. 

Deepening relationships between employers and the College improves hiring outcomes and the Branthaven-Mohawk partnership will serve as a model for other employers facing talent shortages, says Young. 
“When employers come to our campus, spend time in our shops, talk to our faculty and spend time with students, that connection is invaluable.” 

At 51 years in business, Branthaven employs about 110 people and is building single-family homes, townhouses, condos and apartments from Markham to Niagara Falls to Cambridge. When subtrades are taken into account, Branthaven projects employ thousands, says Peckart. 

“We all need to work together to get the word out about jobs in the construction industry. It covers so many things, like sales, design, architecture, all the skilled trades on a job site. Construction is a big driver of jobs.” 
 

This story originally appeared in Momentum Magazine.