East Hamilton church home to 2nd Mohawk College and Ontario Trillium Foundation community building project

Delta United Church in East Hamilton will be a one-of-a-kind classroom for a crew of 100 Mohawk College students for the next three weeks.

Building Renovation students from Mohawk's skilled trades campus in Stoney Creek are carrying out major renovations at the Ottawa Street church in partnership with the Ontario Trillium Foundation until March 28. The church's Friendship Hall, used by more than 400 people each week, will be completely gutted with a new floor, ceiling, windows and lighting installed. Students will also build a new fully accessible entrance to the church.

Mohawk became the first Ontario college to partner with the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2013 with complete second storey renovations to the Old Firehall Arts Centre in Ancaster. This year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation is providing a $49,272 grant to Delta United Church while Mohawk students and faculty volunteer their time and labour. Building Renovation coordinator Brad MacDonald incorporated an annual community project into his program curriculum seven years ago to give students real-world experience applying their skills and working on job sites. The partnership with the Ontario Trillium Foundation has allowed students to take on a much larger year-end renovation projects.

Generously supporting the 2nd annual Mohawk College - Ontario Trillium Foundation community building project with donations and discounted building supplies, equipment and services are:

• The Mohawk Students' Association


• The Mohawk College Association of Continuing Education Students


• McGowan's Insulation


• Ironstone Entrance Technologies Inc.


• Clare Interior Supplies Ltd.


• All-Pro Door and Hardware


• Fastenal


• Skytec


• Infrastructure Health and Safety Association


• Turkstra Lumber


• Stephensons Rental


• Pinchin Environmental


• Hank's Painting


• Centura Flooring


• Sherwin Williams


• Barton Glass