AMSS Tech Hub open house offers preview of hands-on career training

New facility offers immersive training in trades, health care, culinary arts and more.

Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School will open its doors June 4 for a public preview of a new hands-on learning centre set to launch this fall.

The AMSS Tech Hub — officially opening in September 2025 — is a new facility designed to give students in Grades 10 to 12 access to real-world training in several high-demand sectors. The June 4 open house begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to students, families, and community members.

The program areas include construction, culinary arts, hairstyling and aesthetics, personal support work, horticulture and landscaping, and transportation. Each stream combines academic and applied instruction, with the aim of preparing students for careers or further education in skilled sectors.

Beginning in Grade 10, students can take two technology courses while completing their core academic curriculum. In Grades 11 and 12, students can opt into the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program, which offers sector-focused courses, industry certifications, and cooperative education placements.

“Our new Tech Hub is designed to prepare students for the future with hands-on learning, state-of-the-art facilities, and real-world cooperative education placements,” said AMSS Principal Jim Keane. “This Open House is the perfect opportunity to see firsthand the exciting programs and opportunities available.”

The Tech Hub includes:

• Two greenhouses for horticulture and landscaping

• A full-scale construction workspace and indoor “sandbox” for project-based learning

• A commercial kitchen

• A fully equipped salon

• Clinical and academic spaces for personal support worker training

• Automotive workspaces with car lifts

Additional offerings include double-credit course bundles and applied math and English classes tailored for students pursuing trades.

The Lambton Kent District School Board notes that this new programming reflects a significant shift for AMSS. Previously focused on serving students with special education needs, the school will now open its doors to all students interested in building practical skills and exploring careers in the skilled trades. Students will no longer need an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to enrol in the Tech Hub.

The Health and Wellness program also includes the opportunity to earn a Personal Support Worker (PSW) Certificate, giving students a direct path to employment in the health care field upon graduation. Other pathways include co-operative placements and potential apprenticeships, strengthening the real-world experience offered across sectors.

The initiative is supported by local industry partners who help strengthen the programs and build career pathways for students.

More information is available at: https://www.lkdsb.net/o/amss/page/tech-hub-learn-more

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