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Local group’s request leads to offended BWG councillor

“To say you’re going to create a tradesman in a weekend — that’s ludicrous.”
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A job training group’s request to Bradford West Gwillimbury council Tuesday sparked a heated response, personally offending one councillor.

Human Endeavour, a training hub that runs workshops to teach people trades such as drywall, flooring, door and window installation, web design, and accounting, currently runs its operations out of a town-owned building at 4208 County Rd. 88.

In their agreement, the group would rent the 950-square-foot space from the town until the municipality needed it back.

Human Endeavour is now looking to expand and is hoping the town can offer a new, larger space, said its CEO Noor Din at Tuesday’s meeting.

Ideally, he said, the group wants a 6,000- to 7,000-square-foot location so it can set up dedicated areas for different types of training. Currently, there is only room for one type of training at a time.

Since opening nearly three years ago, 169 people have taken workshops there and 88 per cent of them last year said training increased their level of confidence in their professional abilities, Din said.

BWG Coun. Mark Contois said he supports the group teaching people do-it-yourself skills, such as how to put up drywall at home, but that it takes several years for proper trades certification.

“It takes more than a weekend course to make someone a tradesman. I am a tradesman. I’m kind of offended,” he said. “To say you’re going to create a tradesman in a weekend — that’s ludicrous.”

Bradford United Church’s Rev. Jim Keenan, who also works with Human Endeavour, responded that the group is about helping people get a taste for trades jobs and training them to get entry-level positions.

Coun. Gary Lamb suggested Human Endeavour reach out to trades unions or big companies to help them find a larger space.

“My concern is you’re going to run into a dead end somewhere,” he said. “We can’t be the be-all and end-all for you.”

Mayor Rob Keffer and Deputy Mayor James Leduc shared their support of the training group.

“Your training facility is a great success story for Bradford,” said Leduc.

Added Keffer: “The great thing is this is in Bradford West Gwillimbury. We’ll contemplate your ask and see if we have anything that would fit.”


Jenni Dunning

About the Author: Jenni Dunning

Jenni Dunning is a community editor and reporter who covers news in the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury.
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