March 17, 2008

TERRAZZO TILE AND MARBLE GUILD OF ONTARIO

Journeymen work on a terrazzo, glass and river stone floor at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre.

Trades Training

Terrazzo artisans welcome to apply for Certificate of Qualification

Ministry urges terrazzo, tile and marble tradespeople to apply

PETER KENTER

correspondent

Last Nov. 5, Ontario’s terrazzo, tile and marble journeypersons were granted the opportunity to apply for an official Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) by the Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.

Tradespeople in the field who have received a Certificate of Apprenticeship in the craft issued prior to that date or who have worked at a journeyperson’s skill level for at least 5,600 hours are being encouraged to apply for a C of Q without having to write an examination.

“This grandparenting policy is a one-time opportunity for journeypersons to get official recognition without writing an exam,” says Jean Quelch, Manager of the Terrazzo, Tile & Marble Guild of Ontario.

“Many of these people have been working in the field for 40 years. Until now, if an apprentice reached journeyperson status, they got a Certificate of Apprenticeship, but there’s been no mechanism to get a C of Q. In labour statistics, the ‘official’ number of certified journeypersons in our trade recognized by the Ontario government was zero.”

Applicants have until Nov. 4, 2009 to apply for the certificate, but getting the word out to all of the potentially affected workers has proved daunting.

An estimated 700 journeypersons in the unionized sector are eligible for the C of Q under the grandfathering policy, but only a reported 13 C of Qs have been granted tradespeople status so far and another 70 applications are currently being processed.

TERRAZZO TILE AND MARBLE GUILD OF ONTARIO

An intricately patterned floor at the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre is the work of local members of the Terrazzo Tile and Marble Guild of Ontario. The Ontario union is trying to get the word out to approximately 700 members that they can now apply for a provincial Certificate of Qualification based on experience, but must do so before the deadline next year.

The guild has contacted its 100 unionized member contractors to inform them of the opportunity.

Because most of the trade works in the Greater Toronto Area, the Brick and Allied Craft Union of Canada (BACU) Local 31 is assisting in collecting applications in the region. Other union locals are carrying the message to their members, although Quelch notes that an undetermined number of non-unionized workers may not be aware of developments.

“Two years may seem like a long time,” says Quelch. “But time is passing. If they don’t move on it, they’ll miss out.” Quelch says that the C of Q not only denotes a mark of excellence, but elevates the trade. “It gives contractors greater confidence in the abilities of their workers and clients will know that their job will be done right,” she says. “We also have a clear goal for the younger generation entering the trade and we’ll be able to track the success of our apprenticeship programs in producing certified tradespeople.”

Terrazzo, tile and marble workers were officially recognized as a Red Seal trade in 2004, but the first interprovincial exam wasn’t developed and made available to workers until November 5, 2007.

John Crepinseck, a Technical Representative at the guild, was the first journeyperson in the province to receive the new C of Q.

“I started in this business as a helper in 1959 and requested certification based on my 45 years of experience,” he says.

“In January I received my certificate and I have it framed on the wall in my office. It makes me feel very proud. Next, I’m going to write the Red Seal exam — that little red dot will look nice on the certificate.”

Application forms for the C of Q can be obtained from the Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office, union locals or the guild.

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