free two-week course provided a glimpse into the world of carpentry, helping participants gain new skills and explore a possible career in construction and residential trades.
The Introduction to Residential Installations course provided learners with the opportunity to create a small practice build.
DeWalt course
The Introduction to Residential Installations course was hosted at the Conestoga Skilled Trades Campus in Cambridge in July and allowed 14 participants to try out carpentry as complete beginners. The group started with fundamental lessons in safety, before learning how to use a measuring tape and power tools and how to plan for every step of a project.
Over the two weeks, the carpentry students framed, dry-walled and added trim and flooring to a small practice build. They also built a small garden bench and shelf to take home.
Part-time professor and course instructor Bill Gagne guided them through every step of the process. “They get accustomed to using the tools through repetition. They needed to get over the idea that everything needs to be perfect immediately. It’s learning by doing,” he said.
Together with carpentry technologists Kelsie Brown and Chris Sine, Gagne ensured everyone was using the tools correctly, gave tips on how to do clean cuts with a mitre saw and was always available to answer questions or lend a helping hand.
