Archives

“I have always had a keen interest in carpentry and knew I wanted to attend a post-secondary institution rather than an apprenticeship program…. Once I discovered there was a carpentry program that focused on sustainability and conserving energy, I knew it was the program for me…. [Something] that really stood out about the Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing program was the second-year building project. Lectures gave us the theory of building and the on-site work let us apply it, get messy and make mistakes. I believe that site work is vital to the program and is something that makes it both unique and rewarding…. The advanced knowledge I gained form this program led to my being hired because I stood out from other applicants. In the six years of working since graduating, I have never been laid-off from work.”

—Scott Weber
Carpenter
Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing Alumnus, 2010

“I chose the Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing program because I wanted to expand my knowledge and experience in residential construction. The program’s focus on creating energy efficient, healthy homes appealed to me because I knew the industry was headed toward a higher standard of construction, and I wanted to apply this mindset and standard both at work, and on my own future homes…. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Perth Campus. I enjoyed the small scale, which allowed everything to be more personalized. At the Perth Campus, you feel more like a member of a club than a student. The instructors were all very personable, knowledgeable and contributed to a truly enjoyable college experience. I like how the outdoor construction projects are part of the landscape of the campus. They’re on display for other students and passersby to notice. I find I still make a point of driving past the College when I’m in the area, just to see the new projects under way.”

—Paul Kerby
Project Manager
Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing Alumnus, 2008

“The staff are so dedicated to their courses. They seem to always be studying and practicing what they teach, and always finding the newest information to be passed on to students…. We were taught to think outside the box. We were taught that there are so many variations to a wall, floor or roof assembly. We were taught to understand why the code is written the way it is. Most of all, we were taught the science of a home and how it applies…. No doubt, this course has given me an advantage in creating my own company at a young age.”

—Michael Prusakowski
General Contractor
Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing Alumnus, 2010

“The program gave me a fundamental understanding of how the house worked as a system. This led me to always ask questions about why something was done this way or that, or to propose new ways of doing something. It eventually lead me to become the Chief Estimator at a renovation company, and now an Intermediate Estimator in a large home builder…. All of the instructors were paramount to my successful completion of the course. I believe that part of the success is because they all came from different construction backgrounds, so they were able to teach us the same concepts, but in different ways. This was the foundation of becoming a critical-thinking construction professional, recognizing that there is more than one solution/way of doing things.”

—John Estey
Intermediate Estimator, Hopewell Residential
Construction Carpentry—Advanced Housing Alumnus, 2007