By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
A new plumbing and heating program is now available in Estrie thanks to a collaboration between the Lennoxville Vocational Training Centre (LVTC) and the Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin. The program, which officially launched in the spring of 2024, was made possible through the Government of Quebec’s Offensive formation en Construction initiative and is now being delivered in newly inaugurated facilities at LVTC.
According to LVTC Director Diane Lavers in a Feb. 10 interview, the project stemmed from discussions with Éric Arseneault, Director of the Centre de formation professionnelle 24-Juin, about addressing a gap in vocational training. “We threw the idea in the air that we would like to both give plumbing in the region,” Lavers said. Initially, the program was set to be delivered at 24-Juin, but space constraints led to its relocation to LVTC, where room was available due to the downsizing of another program.
The new facilities feature a two-level structure designed to simulate real-world plumbing installations. “They have to install a complete bathroom upstairs, bring down the piping downstairs, and even shovel the gravel,” Lavers explained. This hands-on approach ensures that students gain practical experience in a realistic setting.
The initiative was heavily supported by funding from the provincial government. “All of the money that was invested by the Minister of Education for that project allowed us to be funded for the materials we needed, the extension, and the new interior arrangements,” Lavers noted.
The first cohort of students, which includes groups from both LVTC and 24-Juin, began their training in March and April 2024 and is expected to graduate in December 2025. The program is jointly staffed by four teachers hired by both school boards, allowing for flexibility and collaboration. “Sometimes, they mix and mingle throughout the shop,” Lavers said, adding that this model aligns with the Eastern Townships School Board’s commitment to a bilingual learning environment.
