Spark of inspiration: Local kids show off award-winning welds

A summer youth camp in Sault Ste. Marie is hoping to spark some interest in welding as a potential career path through some hands-on experience. 

Youth ages 12 to 15 have been at Superior Heights over the past week for Mind Over Metal, a week-long welding camp hosted by the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Welding Foundation in partnership with the Algoma District School Board and Algoma Steel.

The camp wrapped up Friday afternoon with lunch and an awards presentation for the participants and family members. 

“We’re just trying to bring awareness to the youth about welding, because we’re facing a shortage of welders and we’re trying to bridge that gap for the future. The boomers are retiring, and there’s not enough people that are aware of the trades and aware of welding,” said CWB Welding Foundation representative Josee Poirier. “We’re trying to bring the students an opportunity to try welding and see if they would like to pursue that in the future.”

Youth taking part in this year’s Mind Over Metal camp this week were also given a tour of Algoma Steel’s Direct Strip Production Complex and the shops department, where they got an opportunity to meet with tradespeople and check out various demonstrations.

The Sault steelmaker provided all of the steel used during Mind Over Metal as part of its sponsorship of the youth camp.  

“They got a behind-the-scenes look at the operation to get a better sense of the role that tradespeople within the steelmaking or manufacturing process, so that those students that are perhaps considering a career in the skilled trades would get an opportunity to meet with some of our tradespeople,” Algoma Steel corporate communications manager Brenda Stenta told SooToday. 

The CWB Welding Foundation has hosted more than a dozen youth welding camps across Canada over the past two years as part of its strategy to get draw more people into the trade.