This year, the Rocky View Schools’ (RVS) Mechanics Training Centre program is celebrating its 25^th anniversary. Established during the 1999/2000 school year, the program is a partnership between RVS and Cam Clark Ford in Airdrie that provides hands-on education to students interested in experiencing the automotive mechanics trade.

"RVS is proud of the success of this long-running program and is happy to celebrate many decades of the Mechanics Training Centre,” said Superintendent of Schools, Greg Luterbach. “One of our priorities as a school division is building future-ready students who are prepared for any path they choose once they finish school. The Mechanics Training Centre is a terrific example of how teachers support students to explore different careers, engage with community partners and provide opportunities for students to experience authentic career-integrated learning driven by RVS’ Career Learning Framework.”

Run by the RVS Community Learning Centre (CLC) and located at Cam Clark Ford, students in the program have access to a fully equipped four-bay shop. Spending time in the shop and adjoining classroom, students explore the theoretical parts of the mechanics trade and apply this knowledge in a hands-on fashion. Students perform automotive work such as oil and fluid changes, maintenance, tire changes, brake service and detailing for real customers. They also learn other aspects of the trade such as customer service and booking.

The program is geared to any student interested in learning more about mechanics and is open to all high school students in RVS. Many students continue into the mechanics field once they finish high school, while other program alumni have entered fields such as engineering, education or healthcare.

“Programs like the Mechanics Training Centre provide students an opportunity to see what learning can look like outside the classroom,” said RVS CLC Principal, Greg Rankin. “By working in the shop, they have a chance to see whether they have an interest and passion for mechanics or might be inspired to pursue something different after finishing school. This experience can be invaluable in informing the types of career decisions students make in the future.”

The success of this program would not be possible without the valued partnership of Cam Clark Ford. In addition to housing the program, the dealership – along with Airdrie’s Davis Chevrolet – began offering scholarships to support two students planning careers in the trades.

“The vision of the Clark family, from the inception of the Mechanics Training Centre, was to invest in the automotive mechanics trade,” said Cam Clark Ford Fixed Operations Manager, Stacey McChesney. “We are proud to be part of inspiring the next generation of future technicians.”

Families interested in learning more or applying to the Mechanics Training Centre can visit the RVS Community Learning Centre website. More information about RVS programs that reach beyond the classroom is available on the RVS website.

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