Educators describe a well-established system locally that is aligning School District #27 (SD27) students with the many skilled trades jobs that need to be filled now, and the not so distant future.
The Industry Training Authority (ITA), which co-ordinates British Columbia’s skilled trades system, released a report in 2014 indicating over the next 10 years thousands of jobs will be produced in all regions of the province. It takes into account an aging demographic and economic growth in mining, forestry and the emerging liquefied natural gas industry.
With an anticipated labour shortage looming, federal and provincial governments have made skills training a priority, the report concludes.
It seems SD27, in partnership with employers and post-secondary institutions, has recognized the importance of apprenticeship programs in secondary schools for a long time, and it is excelling at getting students workplace experience before they graduate.
The biggest programs – ACE IT (Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training) and the Secondary School Apprenticeship – give students hands-on training for more than a dozen local students each year.
“The success rate is very high for our school district, much higher than many districts in B.C.,” says David Corbett, SD27 co-ordinator of career programs.
“Students are completing high school with all the credits they need to graduate, plus they’re getting their first year technical training with Thomson Rivers University (TRU), and getting – whether it’s heavy duty mechanics or welding or carpentry or electrical – their first level done. It’s a huge advantage.
“They graduate with both their ticket – first level training – and they have their graduation certificate. They’re that much further ahead.”
Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) grad Jake Smith is one example.
The 19-year-old graduated two years ago. Since then he’s been apprenticing as a heavy duty mechanic at Mount Polley Mine. As part of a SD27 program, he started making connections there even before he graduated.
Smith went through the ACE IT program, which helped him finance his career training. He also attended Heavy Metal Rocks, a three-day program that gives students the opportunity to learn how to operate heavy equipment, learn about construction, and pick up valuable lessons about work-place safety.
Smith says it’s pretty nice being on a fast track toward a career. On his days off he likes to pass some of his time visiting the automotive shop at PSO, his old favourite class, helping teacher Chris Leflufy and younger students with projects.
“I would do it again in a heartbeat,” Smith says of the apprenticeship route. “There are a lot of opportunities, especially at this school.”
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett is a longtime proponent of trades training in schools. Her late husband, Jack Barnett, was a tradesman, “with three or four tickets in his pockets,” she explains.
“Anywhere he went he could get a job – and a good paying job.
“If you look at the workforce, it’s full of mechanics, plumbers, [and trades-related jobs]. The population is aging. Not even talking about new industry, just talking about an aging population: who’s going to fill these gaps?”
On a visit to 100 Mile House to discuss the JR Initial Attack program – a skills program that places secondary school students in employment positions with the Provincial Initial Attack Program and the Emergency Fire Fighter Program of the B.C. Ministry of Forests – Lisa Kraus, SD27 career development program assistant, talked about some of the many workplace experience programs available:
• YES 2 IT (Youth Exploring Skills to Industry Training) is a community-based, highly interactive program giving students a chance to experience a variety of trades and make connections with tradespersons.
• The Cariboo Chilcotin Explore for More Youth Camp of Discovery is a four-day camp organized by TRU giving Grade 8 students a crash course in a career in the mining industry.
• Pizza Pop and Power Tools is a new program to introduce girls to the world of trades.
• The InSPIRE program – in partnership with SkillsBC, the province and Trades Training BC – is an in-school presentation that provides teachers and students from grades 6-12 with a new perspective on skilled trades, linking classroom subjects with potential careers.
