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Tillsonburg POST
APRIL 16, 2026
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Tech Truck uses virtual reality to let students experience trades
Shop Hours: Mon - Fri: 8 am to 5 pm & Sat: 8 am to 4 pm
JEFF HELSDON Editor
Virtual reality has made the world a different place. Although primarily considered the stuff of gaming, it now has practical, real-world roles in helping students choose a career pathway. Imagine a world where, as a high school student, you could try driving heavy equipment, painting automotive parts, or being a hairstylist. While experiencing the dayto-day reality of these careers used to require a co-op placement or actually finishing schooling, virtual reality is a game-changer, allowing hands-on experiences of different jobs. Skills Ontario's Trades and Tech Truck is the vehicle that helps students better understand the options available to them in the trades – and in more ways than one. Besides being a portable vehicle, the trailer offers hands-on experience in careers as a household electrician, welder, plumber, 3-D printer, heavy equipment operator, automotive mechanic, chef, hairdresser, and painter. Experiencing some trades, such as hairstyling, is done with mannequins, but others are seen through virtual reality. Randy MacKenzie of Skills Ontario was a former heavy equipment operator. He said the heavy equipment simulator is real in every aspect except that the seat doesn’t move. The virtual reality welder is also as close as students can get to the real thing.
VIRTUAL WELDING
(JEFF HELSDON PHOTO)
Under the guidance from Jessie Fram from Skills Ontario, Glendale High School student Elliott Fletcher experiences welding in the Skills Ontario Tech Truck last week. The portable trailer lets students experience a variety of trades through virtual reality and hands-on experience. Story on left.
More uncertainty than certainty if council members will run again JEFF HELSDON
Editor
With nominations in this fall’s municipal election opening in just over two weeks, there is still a lot of uncertainty amongst Tillsonburg’s incumbent elected officials about whether they will be seeking office again. Nominations open on May 1 and run until Aug. 21. Mayor Deb Gilvesy believes there is still ample time to make
a decision, and hasn’t decided yet. “My focus right now is on delivering the projects and priorities currently moving through the budget process,” she said. Coun. Pete Luciani will not be running again this fall after completing two terms on council. “I have thoroughly enjoyed being on town council and having the privilege of being part of the progress the town continues to make,” he said. “That said, my wife, Kelly, is now fully retired, which is a deciding factor in my not running for a third term. CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
CONTINUED TO PAGE 2
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