TRADES
TALK.

“Talking Trades” Across the Province in Celebration of Apprenticeship Recognition Week

To celebrate the fourth annual Apprenticeship Recognition Week (November 4-10, 2018), SkilledTradesBC held “Talking Trades” events in Terrace, Kelowna and Victoria. This first-time initiative invited local Apprenticeship Advisors and skilled trades Champions into SkilledTradesBC Youth Work in Trades Program classrooms to speak with students and educators about the importance of apprenticeship and trades training in BC.

Trades Champions spoke candidly about their personal experiences and the value of a career in trades, with the goal to motivate students to continue their pursuit of a career in skilled trades. A few of these Champions are profiled here

[Terrace] Ryan Praticante is constantly learning on and off the field – whether in his profession as an Automotive Collision Repair Technician or as a baseball coach. His advice to future tradespeople: “They are called skilled trades for a reason. There is a learning curve no matter the trade, but at the end of the day, it is so fulfilling.”

[Kelowna] Darian Dallmann loves looking back at her work as a Construction Electrician and thinking: “I made this happen, I did that.” She has been working in her trade for seven years now and hopes to open her own electrical business one day.

[Victoria] Every day while in high school, Ryan Broughton’s brother would come home from the metal, woodworking, mechanics and electrical classes he was taking and tell Ryan all about the great stuff he was learning. Ryan was so inspired that he decided to pursue a career as an Electrician

MOU Signings with Indigenous Communities

Since February 2018, SkilledTradesBC’s Director of Indigenous Relations, Michael Cameron, has been touring the province to learn about the apprenticeship needs of BC’s Indigenous communities.

To further strengthen relationships between SkilledTradesBC and BC’s Indigenous communities and to remove barriers to participation in trades for Indigenous apprentices, SkilledTradesBC and some Indigenous partners have jointly created and entered into Memorandums of Understanding (MOU). So far, Musqueam Indian Band, North Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society and Nuxalk Nation have signed MOUs and many others are underway.

These MOUs will benefit Indigenous apprentices, communities, and industry, as we continue to build a diverse and inclusive workforce across the province. 

Food Truck Offers Students a Taste of the Trades

The Camosun College Culinary Arts Program launched a student-run food truck, the first of its kind in Western Canada. This innovative project offers students an opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom and develop industry-ready skills while gaining exposure to the fast-growing food truck sector.

The food truck is staffed by Culinary Arts students from the Professional Cook 1 (PC-1) program, and students from across the college in metal work, automotive repair, plumbing, pipe trades, graphic arts and a range of other disciplines worked together to bring the project to life. Camosun plans to take the truck to local high schools to offer students a taste of the trades available at the College.

Learn more about the Camosun College Culinary Arts Program and its collaborative food truck project. 

Collaborating for a Cause

In Campbell River, North Island College students collaborated with School District 72 to build three sheds as part of an SkilledTradesBC Youth Explore Trades Sampler Program. Students in grades 11 and 12 were offered an opportunity to explore a range of trades as potential career options. Together, students worked on window and door framing, floor, wall and roof construction, and exterior finishing. By building the sheds, students gained invaluable exposure to a range of trades including electrical, heavy mechanical, construction and welding. The Carpentry Foundation program at North Island College put the three sheds up for auction to find them forever homes and raise funds for future trades program students.

Learn more about the Carpentry Foundation Program at North Island College, and what it takes to learn the techniques of this trade.  

Apprentices are Key to Culture

Strait Projects is a pipeline and facility construction firm supporting oil and gas projects across Western Canada. Agility, integrity and innovation are the business’ core values and according to Ryan Gall, Operations Manager at Strait, apprentices play a key role in improving and moving that culture forward.

“Usually the people willing to start an apprenticeship are the ones who will continue to develop and excel your business to the next place,” says Ryan, who is a huge advocate for apprenticeship.

Cassie Rodka is a Welder at Strait. She first began exploring the trades in metal shop classes in high school. After having her son, Cassie revisited her passion for welding: “It’s opened a lot of doors for me”, she says. “I’m loving every minute of it.” 

Find out more about the benefits of sponsoring apprentices according to Strait Projects, and what it takes to become an employer sponsor. 

CAF First Annual Supporting Women in Trades Conference

In November 2018, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) hosted an inaugural Supporting Women in Trades (SWIT) Conference, the first-ever of its kind. The conference brought together stakeholders from across the country to share best practices in supporting women in the trades and identify gaps that could be addressed nationally. Drawing upon the great work done by advocate groups and trailblazers in the field of gender equity in the trades, attendees not only identified the barriers to inclusion, but also began building tangible solutions. The outcome of the conference was a collaborative road map for action and change. “We need to continue to share ideas, connect and build capacity,” says France Daviault, Executive Director, CAF. "Much work has yet to be done. It is also important to provide women with a safe space to share their stories and network.” Tradeswomen left the conference feeling supported and inspired. To ensure that progress continues to be made, CAF plans to make the conference an annual event. Planning for 2019 SWIT is underway, and will build on the great achievements of the first conference.