WITH major industrial projects literally “coming down the pipe” in the northwest, local schools have started to adapt their curriculi to prep kids for potential trades careers.
Trades careers requiring applied skills training that reward with high wages and plentiful opportunity appear to be on the horizon as B.C.’s north revs up to supply natural resources to expanding Asian markets.
And when it comes to skilled labour jobs, getting some certification early will help kids in future training or to even land jobs after high school, according to Veritas Catholic School part-time applied skills teacher Allan McIntyre.
McIntyre, who specializes in workplace safety, said there is the opportunity to give students basic certifications such as WHMIS early on.
“You can’t step into a work site without these certifications,” he said.
McIntyre teaches out of a trailer to Veritas Grade 7’s, Grade 8’s, (this will include Grade 9’s starting next year when the school welcomes its inaugural Grade 9 cohort), instructing pupils in woodworking and other applied skills.
He purchased the trailer in Washington and renovated it with the support of Veritas school.
McIntyre likes to give kids the chance to see if they have a natural inclination towards or aptitude for the trades.
He gives his courses from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday.
He said early workshop classes like his will help students decide if they want to pursue more applied skills in high school.
The safety and skills he teaches at Veritas integrate well with Caledonia Secondary School’s ACE-IT program which does trades training in partnership with the Northwest Community College.
McIntyre said he likes the idea of a northwest regional trades centre potentially at Thornhill Jr. Secondary School (see article in tomorrow's Terrace Standard) and he envisions shuttling Grade 9 students to courses there by bus from Veritas.
When asked if they would consider a career in the trades, about half the Grade 7’s raised a hand.
Principal of the school Dave Crawley said that the training trailer courses are part of the wider program of hands-on skills including foods, sewing and drama in which the students spend a total of 20 hours each.
In the future it will include picture framing, knot tying, first-aid courses, and basic automotive maintenance classes.