Construction Fundamentals students gain real-world experience building sheds

Training Program provides introductory skills to the construction trades

A second cohort of the Construction Fundamentals program took place in July and August at NSCC Akerley campus. During the 8-week customized training program, participants gained valuable knowledge and learned introductory practical skills that will enable them to begin working in the construction industry.

Participating students from an eclectic mix of ages, backgrounds, and experience in the skilled trades learned about safety protocols and got hands-on experience with a variety of tools and techniques from various construction trades. During the final two weeks of the course, students focused on carpentry skills while working on a real-world project building sheds for a NSCC client.

“It's an opportunity for our students to take on a project and get some real-world experience,” said NSCC instructor Josh Boulton. “We’re building things specifically for a client, but they still have an environment where they are able to make mistakes and learn, and the client understands going in that it's used as a learning vehicle. But [students] get the opportunity to build something that actually goes somewhere and that they can feel proud of.”

The Construction Fundamentals course was free for students to participate and was offered through a partnership between the Nova Scotia Community College, Construction Association of Nova Scotia, and Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.

The program started in May 2023, with students of the first cohort spending a week building an accessibility ramp for a veteran with Huntington’s disease.