As of mid-July, the Georgian College Midland campus had more students enrolled in its one-year skilled trades programs than ever before.

“Our numbers for September are higher than they have ever been,” said Mac Greaves, associate dean and campus principal. “We are up 40 per cent over 2019.”

In 2019, the Midland campus had 123 students in one-year trades programs. In 2020, enrolment dropped to 112. This year it’s up significantly. As of July 22, 174 students had enrolled for the 2021-22 school year at the local trades campus — a 41.5-per-cent increase from 2019 and 50-per-cent increase over last year.

“A single digit (percentage) rise is significant — 40 per cent is unheard of,” said Greaves.

The Robbert Hartog Midland campus offers one-year electrical, welding, plumbing, and marine and small engine repair courses, along with apprenticeship training in all of those trades. […]