The Trade Of A Lifetime 

A few years ago, Mike Holmes, along with his kids Sherry, and Mike Holmes Jr, took on a project that is close to their hearts. An 18-year-old student asked Mike Holmes to help to save her school’s skilled trades programme. The Holmes team jumped at this opportunity to renovate parts of the school for the series Holmes Family Effect. Check out this amazing Mike Holmes renovation!

 

 

 

The Holmes family transformed three rundown classrooms. Woodworking and masonry classes were completely renovated, with new features such as a cutting area and a tool wall installed. 

 

About Judith Nyman Secondary School

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Judith Nyman Secondary School is located in Brampton, Ontario. With a class full of future trades professionals, it was a special project for the Holmes family. The classes offered at this high school are designed for experiential learners and help prepare them for high demand opportunities in the skilled trades field. 

 

Core subjects are offered in all pathways and allow students to take courses that specialize in a number of areas including Construction Technology, Transportation Technology, Hospitality, and Personal Services. 

 

 

The Mike Holmes Renovation

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The Holmes family transformed three rundown classrooms. Woodworking and masonry classes were completely renovated, with new features such as a cutting area and a tool wall installed. 

 

The home renovation classroom was also renovated. Mike Holmes’ goal was to organize it in such a way that the students would learn the same things in the classroom that they would on the job. Framing, electrical, plumbing, kitchens – all these are part of what the school offers.

 

These high school students also got state-of-the-art equipment. They were given a brand new CNC machine, sanders and high-quality tools.

 

Mike Holmes also got to wear his teachers’ hat to give the students a chance to learn from the pros. 

 

One of the problems Mike Holmes identified was that there was no easy way to get larger items, such as skids of bricks or mortar, into the classrooms. The students were carrying them into the classroom. The Holmes Group made the door wider to make it easier to bring in materials. The classrooms were also painted in the school’s brand colors – yellow and black.

 

“Local schools and career centers can play a significant role in exposing students to the skilled trades at an early age. ” – Mike Holmes

 

Frank Meleca – Home Renovation Teacher

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Frank is OUR hero. Mike Holmes still keeps in touch with him and loves hearing all the new things he is doing for his trade students. After high school, Frank excelled at his family business, which was an auto shop. He ran a co-op program from the shop, taking students from three different high schools and started training them. When Frank took over the family business, he felt a a lot of pressure to run it without the help of his father, who passed away. Frank’s wife encouraged him to go to teacher’s college.

 

Fast forward a few years, Frank Meleca joined the Judith Nyman Secondary School as a teacher. His passion for teaching the kids is incredible!

 

 

 

Russell Peters Meets Mike Holmes During Renovation

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Russell Peters, the popular comedian, is a former student of Judith Nyman Secondary School. Mike Holmes brought him back to his high school to show him all the upgrades that were done to improve the experience of the students.

 

“I also want to see our government and industry leaders developing policies that make skilled trade careers more attractive. This can include incentives for training programs, tax benefits for companies offering apprenticeships, and funding for technical education” – Mike Holmes

 

About Holmes Family Effect

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Starring TV personality and professional contractor Mike Holmes, along with his daughter Sherry and son Mike Holmes Jr, the inspirational series shows the heart, grit, and determination of the Holmes family as they tackle their most important projects to date.

Working with people who are making positive impacts in their communities, each episode follows the Holmes family as they surprise these deserving individuals. From a neglected school building to a rundown youth centre, Mike, Sherry, and Michael transform the spaces and help these community heroes so they can continue to make a difference.

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