A shortage of skilled trades workers has long been a drag on the Canadian economy, but at least one trade school is doing everything in its power to ensure students are able to continue to learn and prepare to enter the workforce despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades in Vaughan, Ont., has been following thorough safety protocols since reopening its doors in early July and last week deployed a screening “care pod,” according to Mike Yorke, president of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario.

“We’ve implemented a number of protocols, including screening each and every visitor, guest and student for COVID each and every day,” said Yorke. “We also have social distancing protocols in place, which means we probably cut our student count by at least 50 per cent. We’ve cut the class sizes down to a maximum of six students.”

Yorke said some of the training areas and the cafeteria have been converted into new classrooms to facilitate social distancing.

“We’ve implemented a number of protocols, including screening each and every visitor, guest and student for COVID each and every day,” said Yorke. “We also have social distancing protocols in place, which means we probably cut our student count by at least 50 per cent. We’ve cut the class sizes down to a maximum of six students.”

Yorke said some of the training areas and the cafeteria have been converted into new classrooms to facilitate social distancing.

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