The Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council (NSCSC) developed and introduced the ‘Trades Exhibition Hall’ (TEH) in 2014. Located in the Halifax region, the TEH is a one-of-a-kind interactive career-awareness facility displaying over 40 occupations in the Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (ICI) construction sector in 14 booths.
While the Hall typically attracts students in grades 9-12, it was visited less by youth from junior high schools outside of the Halifax Regional Municipality for several reasons, which could include travel challenges and costs, and awareness of opportunity. Schools in rural parts of the province expressed interest in career exploration in the construction sector but faced challenges in visiting the Trades Exhibition Hall.
To address these challenges and explore opportunities to engage youth at a younger age, the NSCSC, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education and Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development partnered to develop a model to deliver meaningful career exploration activities and experiences focused at the grade seven level.
Together, they created the Mobile Construction Experience (MCE), which is a 53’ showcase trailer that was outfitted with interactive displays of trades and management occupations in the Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional construction sector. This unit is completely solar-powered and is able to travel around the province to immerse participants in a live, outdoor “construction zone.”
The NSCSC is busy planning for the upcoming year and the travels of the MCE, by narrowing down ideal locations across the province. If you haven’t already had the chance to check out the MCE, the Trades Exhibition Hall is hosting an Open House on Saturday, September 28th and the MCE will be on site. The address of the NSCSC is: 10 Ragged Lake Blvd., Unit 1, Halifax.
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