Auto mechanics students at the West Island Career Centre were thrilled when Generals Motors Canada donated a 2017 Sierra truck to the shop.
Zheng Li (left to right), August Darey and Jora Khalsa check out the engine on the GMC pickup truck donated to the West Island Career Centre by GMC Canada in Pierrefonds on Monday.
There is nothing like a new car or truck to catch the attention of an automobile enthusiast.
So, naturally, students in the auto mechanics program at the West Island Career Centre in Pierrefonds were thrilled last week when they spotted a new 2017 Sierra GMC truck in the school’s garage.
The $70,000 pickup was recently donated to the centre by General Motors of Canada.
“It’s a beautiful truck,” said Ann Moran, centre director of WICC.
“It really hurts to see it just sitting in the garage there,” she said with a laugh.
Although the auto mechanic students won’t be able to drive the black Sierra around the West Island, the donation from GMC is a welcome addition to the fleet of mostly older rehab cars the students normally work on as part of their vocational training.
“It’s very exciting for us because we’re a public school, so a donation like this is (special),” Moran said.
“And to have a partnership with any of the automotive industry (players) is a real bonus for us. It’s very fun as well because we’ve done a lot of renovations in the auto program over the last two years and this is sort of a crown jewel for us.”
Bernard Duchesneau, an auto mechanics teacher at WICC, said it’s been 20 years since the school received its last new 4×4, a 1997 GMC truck.
“So much of the technology in cars and trucks has changed since then,” Duchesneau said.
“Today, there is so much computerized equipment like OnStar. So having a new truck like this, we’re going to be able to train our students and also train our teachers. It’s very important to get new technology for the students. It’s crucial.”
The auto mechanics program at WICC has eight classrooms, which are attached to Pierrefonds Comprehensive High School.
The vocational program falls under the continuing education division of the Lester B. Pearson School Board.
August Darey (left to right), Adam Jasko, Zacchary Grant, Jora Khalsa and Zheng Li check out the engine on the GMC pickup truck donated to the West Island Career Centre by GMC Canada in Pierrefonds on Monday.
“We have about 120 to 150 auto mechanic students at any time,” Moran said. “It’s for students aged 16 and up, but the majority are between 17 and 25. We also have some older students.”
The program attracts mostly males, but some females are also interested in becoming car mechanics.
August Darey is one of about 10 female students currently enrolled in the program.
“I’ve always liked cars, even when I was a kid,” said 19-year-old Darey. “But nobody in my family was really into cars, so what better place to come than a school? So I decided to come to the West Island Career Centre.”
Like her fellow students, Darey was excited to see the new GMC Sierra in the shop.
“We get to see some new auto technologies we haven’t seen before and we get to experience different things we can’t do on the older cars,” she said. “So it’s pretty cool to get to work on different types of cars of trucks.”
Darey has been at WICC for almost a year and she plans to head out west when he completes her DEP, the professional studies diploma granted upon completion of the 15-month program.
“I want to get into diesel and go to Alberta,” said Darey, who is from Ville-Émard in Montreal. “Maybe work on some of the oil trucks or diesel trucks in Alberta.”
Moran said the auto mechanics graduates usually find work in their trade after finishing the program.
“Students come out with an apprentice card as a mechanic,” Moran explained. “They then have to continue to apprentice in a garage. They need 6,000 hours before they become a licensed mechanic. “
“Usually when they leave here, they start as an entry-level mechanic. A lot of West Island car dealers employ our students. We have an excellent reputation. That’s really the success of our program, by reputation.”
Moran said WICC auto mechanic grads are well-trained for the workplace.
“Our program is very comprehensive; the students do everything from engines to tire changing. They take an engine apart and then put it together. Same with transmissions.”
The WICC program received some more goods news recently when five of its students — Jake Veinotte, Mike Verna, Nicolas Vigeant, Joshua Hoyte, Jolitta Hosford — each received a $1,000 bursary from NAPA AUTOPRO.
“Only 10 bursaries were offered, in both the French and English sectors, for the entire island of Montreal — and our students won five of them,” noted Adam Lambert, assistant centre director of WICC.
“We’re very proud of them.”
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "West Island auto mechanics program gets keys to a new GMC truck"
Post a Comment