What’s New

On April 1, 2009 Deb Purdy was hired as the National WoodLinks Project Manager.  She is working hard to expand the adoption of WoodLINKS across the country.   From its roots in BC, the WoodLINKS curriculum has now also been approved in the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick.  A review of the WoodLINKS curriculum is on-going in several other provinces, including Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.  Discussions with other provinces regarding WoodLINKS adoption will take place in the near future. 

In the fall of 2008, the WMC released the updated Core curriculum and 8 new sub-sector modules.  Work on two additional sub-sector modules (lumber and pulp and paper), in partnership with the Forest Products Sector Council, will begin in 2010.  The new on-line LXR testing procedure was introduced in the fall of 2009 and has now been used successfully by schools in both Canada and the US.  WMC has created and continues to expand a national industry partner list.  This National Suppliers List features companies that will offer complimentary or discounted supplies and services for all WoodLINKS Schools. 

Purdy and other WMC representatives, including Carrie Morgan, Project Manager, have been busy making presentations to interested groups across the country, including the Nova Scotia Technical Education Association, and tech teachers in Ontario (OCTE) and New Brunswick.  We have participated at and presented to Skills Competitions in several provinces, including Ontario and New Brunswick.  WMC and WoodLINKS were prominent at the World Skills Competitions in Calgary, Alberta in the fall of 2009.  WMC, featuring WoodLINKS, had a booth in Canada House for 4 days at this significant international event. 

The team at the World Skills Competition - Calgary 2009

WMC, with the support of our sector stakeholders, has co-ordinated the participation of Canadian teachers at the WoodLINKS In-Service programs at both the AWFS in Las Vegas and the IWF in Atlanta.

WoodLINKS Teachers at AWFS - Las Vegas 2009

The WMC has been a key player in the Education Sector Council Partnership Project.  This initiative partnered us with Timothy Eaton BTi, where we worked with the Board and a tremendous team of their staff to establish a WoodLINKS program.  In the fall of 2009, the TDSB had to make the difficult decision to close the school, but the Board wanted to preserve the WoodLINKS program, so it is moving to Lakeshore CI.  As part of this process, we developed and presented a WoodLINKS Orientation Day for TDSB Schools on Oct.6th.  WMC Past Chair Blair Tullis presented along with representatives from BC Saw, Nienkamper & Aya Kitchens as well as TDSB and other officials.  A total of 27 people participated.   

Deb Purdy presenting at the TDSB orientation day

WMC has been pleased to have had two successful pilot programs at the Stony Mountain Institution in Manitoba, including one specifically for aboriginal inmates.  Further work with CORCAN at other federal institutions is under consideration. The WMC is also examining other possibilities for WoodLINKS, including offering the program as an adult education course and as an in-house training program for wood manufacturing companies.