Wallaceburg company sweetens pot to potentially attract future employees

A Wallaceburg-based tool and die operation continues to sweeten the pot to attract young people into the skilled trades.

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AarKel Tool and Die was at Chatham-Kent Secondary School on Monday to continue its long-standing tradition of giving out cash awards to students who excel in the technical program.

“We want to encourage young people to get into the trades, particularly into our trades, which is a general machinist, tool and die, mold makers and CNC (computer numerical control) machinists,” said Tony Myers AarKel manager of human resources.

Awards of $250 go to the top Grade 12 students and $100 each for Grade 11 and 10 students.

But Myers said there are more cash incentives if a student decides to work for AarKel.

“If they choose to come and join us then they will get $1,000 and a tool subsidy at the end of the first year,” he said.

Anyone who attends one of the company’s programs, such as a shop tour, and goes on to work at AarKel’s will receive $450 after a year.

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“There’s lots of opportunity in our business,” Myers said.

He said AarKel could hire a lot of people, even from high school, but it does help if someone goes to an apprenticeship program to learn to operate the machines.

Grade 12 CKSS student Jeanette Leger received the $250 award and Sydney Brisco and Fauzan Khan each received a $100 for the Grade 11 and 10 programs.

Calling the award “awesome,” Leger, 17, said, “My dad is an engineer, so I’ve always been interested in design and how stuff works.”

She is pursuing a career in mechanical engineering and has enjoyed the technical programs at CKSS.

“It is hands-on and fun,” Leger said. “You’re always doing something different — not sitting in a classroom.”

Brisco, 16, said the award is great.

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“It’s nice to get recognized for my efforts,” she said.

Brisco enjoys the creative aspect of the skilled trades, “because I’m really into arts. . . so getting to put all of that into building stuff.”

Khan also said it is great to get the award.

He is inspired by his father who is an engineer and wants to follow in his footsteps.

Khan enjoys the technical courses.

“For kinesthetic learners, especially, it gives a unique experience for those who like to have hands-on experiences,” he said.

Myers said schools, such as CKSS, have received equipment funded through provincial government and the Canadian Tool Manufacturers Association to install CNC machines in school technical programs.

“The schools have hired some good instructors and they’re familiar with the trade and how these machines operate and how tools are assembled, and that helps,” he said.

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