Thank you to all those who made NETCO’s 2007 National Training Symposium a success. The weekend event (Nov. 2-4, 2007) attracted 65 delegates from across Canada including representatives from Joint Apprenticeship Committees, IBEW Local Unions, contractors, safety organizations, community colleges, sector councils and governments. Download the List of Participants. It was held at the Kempenfelt Centre in Barrie, Ontario—a get-away venue on the shores of Lake Simcoe that makes networking effortless.

On Friday evening the delegates had an opportunity to informally get to know each other during a Cocktail Reception sponsored by Greenlee. In plenary on Saturday the opening remarks of Co-chairs Eryl Roberts (CECA, NETCO Treasurer) and Phil Flemming (IBEW, NETCO President) reinforced NETCO’s potential as a national voice of influence for the electrical industry in Canada. The launch of new resources available through NETCO’s growing suite of Human Resource Tools & Products (e.g., National Occupational Standards posters) was well received.

Throughout the weekend, delegates enjoyed presentations from six guest speakers selected to highlight training resources, best practices in apprenticeship and journeyperson skills training, federal trades and apprenticeship programs, national standards and The Red Seal Program and human capital challenges facing the construction industry. Delegates also provided invaluable input into NETCO’s 2008 Action Plan during small-group and open-microphone discussions. Follow-Up Program Including Speaker Presentation Downloads. The Symposium also focused on professional development. Each delegate had the opportunity to enroll in one of three workshops led by expert facilitators.

The Editor of Electrical Business was also on-site as NETCO’s media partner. A three-page article was published in the January 2008 edition. NETCO National Training Symposium Highlights.