Students in a George Brown College specialized construction program for people with mental health and addiction histories are getting real-world experience building a nature retreat for people with similar challenges.
The Construction Craftworker program is part of George Brown’s Augmented Education — free programs for people who’ve experienced complex mental health challenges and/or addiction that prepare them to find and maintain employment. Students in the construction program, offered by the Centre for Preparatory and Liberal Studies, gain carpentry and masonry skills and learn renovation techniques and metal cutting.
When the pandemic and capacity limits put in-person learning on hold and delayed access to labs, Augmented Education Program Manager Suzanne De Freitas and Program Assistant Alexis Goncalves-Jenken had to get creative and look for opportunities for the Construction Craftworker students to complete the hands-on component of their program.
They were considering a wide range of options when they were connected to a woman who owns a farm in Clarington, Ontario, about one hour east of Toronto. Melena Gibner is in the process of converting her property into a wellness retreat called Mystic Pines where retired racehorses roam and cabins can be rented for visitors to unwind and enjoy nature.
"Our students are going to build a cabin that will be available to people overcoming mental health and addiction challenges, to aid in their recovery," De Freitas said. “That's amazing.”
Students started work in April and De Freitas says the goal is to complete the project by June. Students will be driven to the farm three days a week to work on the cabin. De Freitas says the project will incorporate all the hands-on components required to complete the George Brown program. The work will be guided by Gibner, who is a retired contractor and provides all raw materials.
George Brown runs two Augmented Education programs, one in construction and the other in culinary arts. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, both programs had an 82 per cent employment rate six months after graduation.
“What makes our program very different from other programs at the college is that it's very UDL (Universal Design for Learning)-focused and we have many supports embedded in the program, including personal success strategies and job coaches,” said Goncalves-Jenken. "We prepare them to be successful students and successful employees.”
