Let's Talk

Atlantic Region

Presto!
From Golf Cart to Fire Truck!

By Debbie Eason, Chief Administration, Training and Informatics, Springhill Institution

At the far end of the institutional grounds CORCAN and vocational shops have been especially busy over the last two years constructing wooden cabinetry for the newly constructed Reception Centre. And most recently, inmates have been focusing on furniture, bookcases and desks for our soon-to-be-opened Fenbrook-style housing unit.

If you take a stroll through Building 18 you can see a variety of other ongoing projects. Inmates are diligently working in the motor vehicle, Department of National Defence van body, carpentry, and CORCAN assembly and paint shops.

But one of the most interesting new projects is something completely different. In February the Amherst Firefighters Association approached the institution with the idea of converting a golf cart to a fire truck that would be one-sixth of the real size. The fire department envisioned using this vehicle as a promotional and educational tool that could be used for fundraising, parades and other special events.

Phil Goudreau, the motor vehicle shop instructor who has been overseeing the project was provided with only a photo of the full-size vehicle. Under his guidance, inmate John Antoine was assigned to work out the drawings and specifications for the scale model. John has been the lead inmate worker on this project and it is evident that he is proud to be part of the initiative.

Local news reporters have been visiting the site to check on progress and are eager to see the finished product. We are confident we will be able to see the vehicle in local parades this summer and share photos of the unveiling of this unique creation in the next issue of Let's Talk.