As reported on ChathamThisWeek.com, about 140 students from Chatham-Kent got a chance to learn from professionals in the industry Thursday about the different types of jobs a career in construction can offer.

Henry Heyink Construction and Huron Construction hosted a heavy civil construction day at each of their workplaces with several stations set up featuring a different set of equipment or materials.

According to Rebecka Heyink, operations manager at Henry Heyink, it was the most-attended event of its kind in Ontario.

“I’m very excited about the response and finally getting it in Chatham-Kent,” she said. “It is our first one here, and I hope it’s something that we can continue and keep promoting construction as a career to high school students.”

Heyink, who has helped organize similar events in the Sarnia area, said there were 10 to 15 different careers highlighted.

The stations were chosen based on fields where there is a demand for workers, she said. These areas include mechanics, operators, labourers, engineering, surveying, asphalt protection, concrete and trucking.

“We wanted to promote how much money you could make and then the fact that there is always going to be work because our infrastructure always is going to need to be improved,” said Heyink. “It’s a good-paying job, and you can make a good living. We’re trying to show that as well.”

Jacob Braithwaite, a Grade 11 student at Lambton Kent composite school, said he learned a lot, even though his family has a “huge background” in construction.

“The land surveying … was pretty interesting,” he said. “It was pretty cool to take a look through it.”

Braithwaite said he’s strongly considering going to college to become a heavy equipment operator.

“That’s what my dad was doing. I’ve been around it my whole life, so it’s pretty easy to me and I guess it’s what I like to do,” he said.

Chatham Christian school student Matthew Taylor said he was impressed by what he heard about the stability of a job in construction, as well as the wages.

Keep reading on ChathamThisWeek.com

 

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