Finishing touches are being made to the new $2-million local carpenters union training facility on London Line.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1256, building is located across from its current union hall in Sarnia's business park.
Manager Bob Schenck says the 13,500 sq ft facility will be used mostly for steel formwork and scaffolding training.
"With the 100 sq ft in the back of the building there's a large 40x50 pit in the floor so they can drive stakes and do some of the normal formwork like you would be in the field during the bad weather," he says. "The woodworking and door and hardware we're continuing to do in the existing facility."
Schenck expects to move into the new building, which also has a large classroom and specific rooms for things like fitness testing, in the next week or so.
He says the union has 680 active members and over 200 retirees.
A grand opening is being planned for this fall to be held in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of Local 1256 in Sarnia.