GDP - Back to homepage

Canadian mood index

 

Episode 11 of 11

July 28, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

The staff at Formétal hosts a summer picnic and looks back on the year that was – as departing young grads prepare to fly on their own.

 
July 28
 

Blue baby booties

The arrival of Tara's first-born throws everything into a new light.

 

July 19, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 10 of 11

 

D-Day approaches

Tara’s need for marketable job skills takes on extra urgency in the days leading up to the birth of his first child.

 

May 25, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 9 of 11

 

Oops

Tara has to put his restaurant plans on the back burner to deal with more pressing matters... like buying baby booties.

 

April 19, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 8 of 11

 
 

Cookin!

Stick a fork in it - this crisis is done! Formétal trainee Tara’s got a sizzling plan to open his own bar-and-grill.

 

March 22, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 7 of 11

 

Tasting success

Formétal offers Tara an escape route from a dead-end job – putting him within reach of his culinary dream.

 

March 3, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 6 of 11

 

Best foot forward

Career counsellor Andrée-Anne gives Nicolas tips on revamping his CV - and making nice to a cranky labour market.

 

February 10, 2010

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 5 of 11

 
 

Pipe dream

Benoît moves on from Formétal – an innovative blend of social enterprise and training facility – and dreams of a welding career.

 

December 12, 2009

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 4 of 11

 

Evolve or rust

While Formétal managers install spanking new metalworking equipment, a new trainee works on improving his attitude.

 

November 26, 2009

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 3 of 11

 

Heavy metal rap

Down on school, outta cash, and high on rap poetry - 18-year-old Nicolas finds a new groove at Formétal.

 

October 26, 2009

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 2 of 11

 
 

Things happen for a reason

An unemployed high-school dropout, Benoît was going nowhere fast. Then a friend told him about Formétal.

 

October 6, 2009

Montreal , Quebec

Episode 1 of 11

 
 
 
   

Workshop

Young workers are taught the skills they need to break into an ornery job market.

 

.

.

  • Main characters  

    Formétal   Formétal  

    Functioning as both training school and business, Formétal teaches metal-working to young Montrealers who’ve fallen through the cracks of the education system.

    Benoît   Benoît  

    Benoît got laid off on Dec. 23 - a recession gift to remember. But the dark cloud had its silver lining. The high school dropout now credits the crisis with setting him on a new career path... and he’s always wanted to be welder.

    Jean   Jean  

    The director of Formétal , Jean is part teacher, part manager – and full-time father figure. He aims to balance the company’s commercial aims with its social role.

    Tara   Tara  

    An immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tara had been working steadily until the economy tanked. A lucky turn of events landed him at Formétal.

    Andrée-Anne   Andrée-Anne  

    Andrée-Anne works as Formétal ’s career counsellor, offering liberal amounts of practical advice as she guides graduating trainees into the job market.

    Nicolas   Nicolas  

    More interested in rap music than in school, Nicolas needs a job and hopes to pick up the necessary skills at Formétal .

     
 

This story in numbers

 
 

Follow this story RSS

Enter a valid email address to follow the characters and the story as it unfolds.

Follow this story