Thinking of going to Canada to a trade school but not sure if they are all they are cracked up to be. Will you just be out of pocket and not really have a trade after the course is over?

but not sure if they are all they are cracked up to be.

And what has prompted you to say that?

The fact that it costs quite a bit of money and want to know if you will have a good knowledge of the course as they claim. How can they teach you all in 1 year when an apprenticeship takes around 3

Canada is a big place... there are probably good and bad trade schools. What trades are you talking about? Truck driving, welding, CNC machining, carpentry...????

If you ask some more specific questions you might get better answers.

Thinking of a HVAC course I know there are likely to be good and bad trade schools but what I was asking was if anyone had been to one and what there opinion of it was. There are no trade schools where I live at all and I just would like to find out first hand about one. The internet only gives me so much but no inside information.

My OH went to a trade school, George Brown College in Toronto, as a means to stay in the country legally and because she was interested in the subject. She didn't try to find work in that trade. However, the school credibly claims that 80% of graduates are working within six months and that was true of her class.

thanks dbd33 that is some reassurance just wish I could get some more info from other people with first hand knowledge. I was looking into North american trade school in London.

The college you should investigate in London, Ontario is Fanshawe College:

http://www.fanshawec.ca/EN/

I know someone who works there and I believe similar to George Brown College in Toronto.

Cheers Auld Yin. Looking it up now. Toronto would be a great place as I have a place for me and the family in St. Catherines and I could go on the Train or bus into the city.

While this tread is a bit old now, for anyone considering going to school in Ontario there are a couple routes to consider. There is the "mainstream" public education system for the Universities and Community Colleges which offer a traditional semester format and then there are the Private Career Colleges, which include everything from the trades to hair dressing to aviation, typically running some kind of variation of a fast track or continuous intake format.

The simple rule of thumb is to check out the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities Ontario to ensure a Private College is registered.

The post originator mentioned North American Trade Schools in London (where I work) and I would be happy to provide a reference to a Brit Expat graduate of ours who completed the HVAC program.

In terms of HVAC - check out the TSSA.org website for a list of approved schools, and be sure to ask about the pass rate for the G3 & G2 tests.

Generally speaking - London Ontario is currently facing the second highest unemployment rate in the province and yes it affects everyone's ability to find the jobs they want. It's become an employers market - in a sense due to the lower demand, they can be more selective in who to hire. When the boom times come, they tend to relax the hiring guidelines and are more willing to hire recent grads and less experienced workers.

Hope this helps.

Hi Todd,
All information is greatly appreciated, i have been in contact with Lionel at the North American trade school and when I am next in Canada I will arrange a visit to the school, as with any downturn jobs always become hard to get. I work in road construction in Ireland and fell in love with Canada last year when I visited.
What was my initial concern was how the school could teach so much in a shorter period of time than say an apprenticeship. And with 3 small kids and a wife to consider I was looking to see if anyone else had entered Canada in this way ie as a student got the trade a job and then hopefully permanent residency. My brother is based in St Catherine's and we would have a place to stay initially to get set up in say London as it is the course that interests me (HVAC) surely it should be a good job in Canada as you have good summers and cold winters therefor all year round work unlike construction.

If you do not mind I would be glad to here from the Brit expat who done the HVAC course there and what they are doing now as a result.

Thanks