Skilled Trades Highlighted at Ontario Sheet Metal Competition

Sheet metal worker apprentices from across Ontario are showcasing their skills in Thunder Bay this week during the 51st Annual Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Competition. The event offers competitors a chance to win a spot in the national competition, but it also serves as a platform to highlight the importance of skilled trades in Ontario.

“It’s a two-day competition,” said Chris Paswisty, director of Canadian affairs with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART Canada). “On the first day, they complete a theory test and a pattern drafting test. Then on the second day, they have the entire day to do their practical exam.”

Each year, participants are tasked with building a model inspired by the host city’s local industry. This year, in Thunder Bay, the challenge was to create a model snowblower. The finished products will be judged, and the winners will be announced at a banquet on Thursday night. The top performers will advance to the national level.

An important aspect of the competition is its public setting. Paswisty noted that the event is always held in a public area to give apprentices a chance to demonstrate their skills to the community. In Thunder Bay, the competition took place at Marina Park.

Scott Wood, provincial training director with the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre, highlighted the various career opportunities within the trade. “Sheet metal work offers two distinct paths,” Wood said. “You can work in a shop or on a job site, and there are many other avenues to explore, from becoming business managers to executive board members in local unions.”

Paswisty emphasized that the sheet metal industry is constantly seeking new workers. “With the growing demand for retrofitting buildings and achieving carbon-zero goals by 2050, there’s a promising future in the sheet metal and roofing trades.”

For those interested in joining the trade, Wood explained that the process typically begins with registering as an apprentice with the ministry. After passing an aptitude test, applicants work with unions to secure job placements. “We’re always looking to bring in young and new apprentices,” Wood added.