The new construction craft worker (CCW) Red Seal program, is B.C.’s 48th Red Seal trade, and the first graduating class in B.C. was in Clearwater at the Thompson Rivers University Satellite Centre on Dec. 19.
A construction craft worker installs utility piping, places concrete, constructs roads, performs selective demolition, performs underground work, assists skilled tradespersons such as carpenters, bricklayers and cement Finishers in construction activities, helps heavy equipment operators secure special attachments to equipment, guide operators in moving equipment and perform laboring activities at construction sites. They are employed by a wide variety of general contractors, municipalities, and oil and gas companies.
The CCW 5-week program was jointly funded by the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, Kinder Morgan and delivered by TRU. The 13 local students who completed the program were the first class in the province to see the new BC Industry Training Authority (ITA) curriculum and to write the first ITA Level 1 CCW standardized written exam in British Columbia.
An education funding RFP opportunity became available this past July on BC Bid; Kinder Morgan approached TRU and voiced an interest in partnering with TRU to provide the training opportunity in four communities along the proposed Kinder Morgan twinning route. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training approved the training for Clearwater, Kamloops and Chilliwack is to be completed by Feb. 28, 2015. The Clearwater class was from Nov. 3 to Dec. 19.
The students who completed the program now have the technical training to approach employers for apprenticeship to accumulate work-based training hours necessary to complete Level 1.
Over an additional two-weeks the students also earned nine provincially recognized certificates: Fall Protection, Ground Disturbance, H2S Alive, Occupation First Aid level 1, Transportation Endorsement, Petroleum Safety Training, Construction Safety Training Systems, Traffic Control Person and Skid Steer.
Ron Plamondon was the instructor for the CCW program.
Congratulations to Cory Jones, Edward Meidl, Everett Raschke, Cassandra Szwaba, Jairus Bromley, James McNeilty, Joseph Hoggard, Justin Stein, Karlysle Christian, Carol Laroche, Mark Sandiman, Raymond (RJ) Wilson, and Shane Ovesen for completing the program.
