A group of Algoma District School Board (ADSB) students applied their woodworking skills to building doghouses in an individual carpentry competition held in the workshop located at the rear of the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre Wednesday.
“It’s really fun working with wood and getting your hands on, building something from nothing, really,” said Alyssa Martin, a White Pines Grade 12 student, who wants to work in the skilled trades, including carpentry, plumbing and electrical work when she graduates from high school.
“I want to do all that stuff,” Martin smiled.
“I want to get into engineering, so I thought housebuilding would be a good start to that, and I do really enjoy this class. I like ‘the flow’ I get into when I work with my hands,” said Christina Barone, a Grade 12 Superior Heights student
“We’re partnered up with Sal-Dan Construction and we’re building a house right now with these students,” said Jim Fitton, ADSB housebuilding program teacher and certified carpenter, speaking to SooToday.
From the 10 students, four winners (Jason Fallstrom, Reilly Kelly, Christian Wilson and Alyssa Martin) will now advance to regional competition in North Bay two weekends from now, and possibly, provincial competition in Toronto in May.
Four to six doghouses will be donated to the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society, the others given away to folks looking for a new doghouse, Fitton said.
Building materials were donated by Soo Mill and Lyons Timber Mart, the power saws donated by Home Depot.
Three judges, each of them local carpenters, two of whom were taught by Fitton, picked the winners.