St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School work on a new training tool donated by the Windsor Electrical Contractors Association, September 15. (Photo by Maureen Revait)St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School work on a new training tool donated by the Windsor Electrical Contractors Association, September 15. (Photo by Maureen Revait)
Windsor

Windsor electricians donate new training tool to Villanova

Students at St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Secondary School have a new training tool thanks to a donation from the Windsor Electrical Contractors Association.

The new mobile training device was designed to give students hands-on experience in fundamental electrical skills.

"It's an electrical board that starts with a main panel like you would see in a normal house, and then it consists of light switches, receptacles, a doorbell system, basically everything that you're going to see when you try to wire up a house or a commercial location," said Association President Mike Hope.

The board is set to a low voltage so students can safely train on the device.

The donation equalled around $6,000 of equipment and was donated in honour of William Smith, the retired Chairman and CEO of Electrozad Supply.

Hope said the association is always looking for ways to promote their trade.

"The trades kind of were put to the side for a long time, people, parents pushed their kids different directions and the trades kind of depleted from the workforce. So we're trying to build that back up again and maintain it," said Hope.

Electrical Academy Teacher Jesse Mulveney says having the equipment at the school helps attract students to the class.

"I think we all know that the focus on things, the attention span is a little lower usually now, so at least when they can get their hands on stuff, that usually keeps them interested," said Mulveney.

Read More Local Stories

File photo courtesy of  © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks

Scoreboard, Sept 16

The Toronto Blue Jays suffered a 10-1 loss Tuesday to the visiting Detroit Tigers. The Jays drop two games back of Cleveland for the third and final wild-card spot in the American League.