Trailblazing program leaves them in stitches

Ten sewing students are the first pioneers in a trailblazing program called Superior Skills which was created by Destination North in partnership with Ontario Works.

The 8-week sewing program began September 8, taught out of a classroom at the former Etienne Brule Public School which was closed after the 2013-2014 school year.

Instructor Daryl Weir said the sewing program is very intensive and students are asked to do work that isn’t taught in some college courses.

“This is like a boot camp for them because it’s a steep learning curve. They have to learn a lot and I am very impressed,” he said.

Only three of the ten students in the sewing program had ever used a sewing machine before.

Students learn basic principles that relate to the construction of garments, such as stitching, flat felt seams, french seam, gathered seams and darts.

“The end result is hopefully for them to achieve some form of piece work where they are sewing bundles at home or a small factory set up in Mill Square and then selling their goods,” said Weir.

Destination North is the tourist attraction being developed at the former St. Mary’s Pulp and Paper Mill (now Mill Square), which includes Mill Market and Entomica.

All of the sewing machines and supplies for the sewing program were purchased locally through a grant from Ontario Works.

Weir said that he thinks consumers are much more aware of where their goods come from, and likens local handcrafting to the local food movement, which is key to Mill Market’s strategy.

“I see a huge trend for people turning over a tag and saying 'oh my gosh, this was made in Canada?' or 'is anything made in Canada anymore?' said Weir.

The sewing program is the first of six Ontario Works training programs that will be introduced through Superior Skills said Mike Nadeau, commissioner of social services for the city of Sault Ste. Marie.

Other Superior Skills programs will be advertised internally within Ontario Works and include insect rearing for Entomica, woodworking and farming.

The hope is that at least six of the ten people in each program will gain employment or start their own business in that field by the end of their instruction.

“This is a strategic partnership where people where people are getting jobs at the end,” said Nadeau.

The use of Etienne Brule is a natural fit, said Nadeau.

“This is perfect because a lot of the people who access our programs reside in the downtown western core,” he said.

(PHOTO: Instructor Daryl Weir seen examining sewing done by student Virginia West as part of the Superior Skills program at Etienne Brule on September 11, 2014. SooToday.com/Kenneth Armstrong)