| As a University of Western Ontario student pursuing an Engineering Science degree, Ryan Arbuthnot registered in the university’s Industry Internship Program. The program recognizes an approved internship as one year of pre-graduation experience towards the four years experience required for licensing as a Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario.
Arriving at the end of his third year, the appointed time to begin the internship, Ryan decided to seek out a placement in his hometown of Renfrew, Ontario. Considering his options, he approached Barry Holt, Director of Canadian Operations at Times Fiber Canada Limited, to pitch the idea.
Holt was very receptive to the arrangement, and with the help of funding through the Youth Internship component of the Eastern Ontario Development Program, administered by Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation, was able to introduce Ryan to process engineering in an industrial manufacturing setting.
Just over six months into his internship, Ryan has participated in daily plant operations, as well as product reviews and process evaluations. Special projects have included assisting with the design and implementation of a new control system addressing a potential health and safety issue, completing a department review that resulted in a 15% increase in productivity, and conducting a costing evaluation revealing potential for improved quoting measures when seeking out new business.
Ryan’s internship has proved to be an invaluable experience, both for him and for Times Fiber. Youth internships help to break the cycle of “no job, no experience, no experience, no job.” And being able to do this in your own community and contribute to the lives of your neighbours, while obtaining valuable employment skills, makes the experience even more rewarding. |
