Dennis Franklin Cromarty trades school to expand options for students

First Nations leaders say a proposed new trades school within Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay will providemore career opportunities, and hope, to youth.

They unveiled plans Thursdayto offer more a more comprehensive curriculum in the trades, but said there's a lot of work to do before the "school within a school" is fully realized.

Ken Liddicoatis a technology teacher at DFC. He said the former public vocational high school on North Edward Street requires a lot of upgrades to house a proper, modern trades school. "It needs to be updated and modernized," he saidas he ledrepresentativesfrom the business, labour, and non-profit sectors on a tour of the 50-year-old building.

"Whether it's the ventilation systemto the lighting, [it] needs to be fixed up and updated."

"We need to build the infrastructure within the school," he said. "Re-do the classrooms and fill them full of industry-level materials and equipment so we can deliver quality programming."

Liddicoat said that currentlythe school offers limited classes in construction and transportation technology, which includethings like small-engine repair. He said space is limited for these courses.Under the new plan,some existing rooms will be converted to house specific trades, including manufacturing, hospitality and hairstyling.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Northern NishnawbeEducation Council provided an overview of the project on Thursday. NAN Deputy Grand Chief GoyceKakegamic said offering an education in the trades will keep more young people in school.

"By saying 'look, I wantto go through the trade route,' and there's a light in the tunnel,it's going to be a lifeline for some of our young people," he said. "It's not for everybody. It's an option."

Kakegamic saidnot everyone is destined for college or university, andhaving this option can keep many young people from falling through the cracks before they find a career. "If they [were] given an opportunity to go into education on a trade route, that will give them hope .... that they can succeed,"he said.

Because the project is off-reserve, Kakegamic saidcapital funding is hard to come by. That's why, he said,officials are looking to partner with the private and non-profit sectors to do the necessary upgrades at DFC.

A fund raising gala is also scheduled for later this month in Thunder Bay.