Photo Rights: Fanshawe College Website
As Fanshawe College St. Thomas-Elgin Regional Campus prepares for its upcoming Open House on March 28th, prospective students have the opportunity to explore programs that can set them on the path to fulfilling careers.
One such program is Welding Techniques, designed to equip students with essential welding skills and provide valuable industry connections.
Program coordinator Mike Ashby emphasizes the practical nature of the curriculum, with roughly 80% of the training being hands-on.
Students can choose from two intakes of this 30-week program: one from September to April and another from May to December.
The first term covers foundational welding techniques in stick, MIG, and TIG welding, along with coursework in blueprinting, mathematics, and workplace professionalism. Upon completion of this term, students are eligible to obtain certification through the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB).
The second term, explains Ashby, advances students’ skills in more complex welding methods.
Graduates of the program find employment in diverse sectors, including automotive and agricultural manufacturing, the Boilermakers Union, and military-based companies.
In addition to its robust curriculum, the St. Thomas campus offers a close-knit, supportive environment with small class sizes and accessible instructors.
Visitors to the Open House will have the opportunity to see that first-hand, as well as the chance to try welding under the guidance of current students and instructors.
Ashby encourages attendees to engage with the hands-on demonstrations and learn about the pathways available in the welding industry.
The Fanshawe College Open House runs on March 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the St. Thomas-Elgin Regional Campus.
For more information or to register for the Open House, visit Fanshawec.ca.
The next intake of students for the Welding Techniques program will be May 2026.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
