With Apprenticeship Recognition Week coming up Nov. 5, Coast Mountains School District is ramping up their efforts to raise awareness around their apprenticeship program for students interested in pursuing a career in the industry.
The province’s Industry Training Authority (ITA) has offered dual credit courses for high school students in the Youth Work in Trades (YWT) program for the last fifteen years. Students who participate earn credit for graduation by completing a certain number of work-based training hours.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity where you get credit for high school and at the same time, they’re working in a trade that they’re going to pursue in the future,” said Janet Meyer, CMSD director of instruction.
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Eleven students from Kitimat, Terrace and Stewart received Youth Work in Trades awards of $1,000 for completing 900 apprenticeship hours within six months of graduation last spring. Brigitta van Heek, trades trainer for CMSD, said the number of students who participated this year was the most in northern B.C.
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Students can start the YWT program at anytime during the year. Two CMSD students who are already certified apprentices are scheduled to talk to the trades students at Coast Mountain College about their experiences on Nov. 7.
brittany@terracestandard.com
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