Regina Trades and Skills Centre students paint daycare

It was a big step up from finger painting at the Bright Beginnings Early Childcare Centre this week as students from Regina Trades and Skills Centre (RTSC) took on a special project to paint the daycare.

“It’s so awesome, we needed it so bad, of course having children here all day long the walls take a beating so we paint quite frequently,” commented Shelley Galbiati, executive director for the daycare.

She said the fact that a non-profit organization like RTSC can help out another non-profit organization like the daycare centre is wonderful.

The fresh paint job comes free of charge to the daycare, with all the equipment and supplies coming from RTSC and Sherwin-Williams.

RTSC Instructor Eugene Frigon described the project as a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“We’re the lucky ones because we get to see the smiles on everybody’s face,” Frigon said. Somebody else all they get to hear – like my boss – all they hear is ‘oh they did a good job and we really appreciate it.’ But when we’re out on the site we actually get to see people that are smiling and they’re really pleased.”

Frigon also explained the benefit to students who encounter different challenges they can’t reproduce in a classroom.

“Now you get to try your skills, I’m not going to patch it, you are. That way they get a real hands-on experience and they also learn that hey, not everything is going to go the way they planned,” he said.

Tai Cook is part of the painting program at RTSC. She said her interest in painting started with art in high school but when it came to looking for a job after graduation she had a hard time. So she applied for the painting program at RTSC to learn practical skills.

She said she appreciates the opportunity to learn on a real job site while giving a fresh look to a daycare centre.

“We’re just lending a helping hand and while we’re at it we’re getting some awesome work experience,” Cook commented.

Other classes from the Trades and Skills Centre will be helping out various community groups over the next six weeks.

The centre accepts applicants based on an interview process and trains them in programs designed for skills in demand for the current job market. The program also offers on the job training for two weeks which can also help set up employment.

— With files from Britton Gray