Northwest Community College Connections

NWCC Skills Canada BC Regional Trades Competition 2013 Winners

Junior Skills Category
Spaghetti Bridge — Students from Mount Elizabeth Middle School in Kitimat BC came away with the top prizes with Jared’s team taking first place. Congratulations to all participants, who learned today that spaghetti is not a great building material.

Secondary Skills Category
Automotive
1st place: Scott Beertema, Hazelton Secondary, Hazelton BC
2nd place: Jordan McNiece, Caledonia Senior Secondary, Terrace BC
3rd place: Andrew Martel, Northwest Community College

Carpentry — sponsored by Progressive Ventures
1st place: Brayden Fulljames, Smithers Secondary, Smithers BC
2nd place: William Helps, Smithers Secondary, Smithers BC
3rd place: Kristian Vidal, Caledonia Senior Secondary, Terrace BC

Culinary Arts — sponsored by Sysco Vancouver
1st place: Ben Williams, Hazelton Secondary, Hazelton BC
2nd place: Luc Statham, Charles Hayes Secondary, Prince Rupert BC
3rd place: Phil Ralston, Caledonia Secondary, Terrace BC

Welding — sponsored by KBR
1st place: Kolton Miller, Northwest Community College
2nd place: Jeremy Soares, Caledonia Senior Secondary, Terrace BC
3rd place: Colton Szmata, Mount Elizabeth Middle School, Kitimat BC

Electrical Wiring
1st place: Chris Leblanc, Northwest Community College
2nd place: Duncan Fisher, Northwest Community College
3rd place: Josh Clark, Northwest Community College

Post-Secondary Category
Automotive
1st place: Jocelyn Harris, Northwest Community College
2nd place, tie: Bertram Gonu and Cody Nelson, Northwest Community College

Carpentry
1st place: Brandon Stella, Northwest Community College
2nd place: Ian Fromm, Northwest Community College
3rd place: James Haley, Northwest Community College

Culinary Arts — sponsored by Sysco Vancouver
1st place: Candice Thomas, Northwest Community College
2nd place: Janelle Robinson, Northwest Community College
3rd place: Leah Kolesar, Northwest Community College

Electrical Wiring
1st place: Shonte William, Northwest Community College
2nd place: Linnea Waechter, Northwest Community College
3rd place: Allen Noordhoff, Northwest Community College


Thank you to the sponsors of the Skills Canada BC Regional Competition:
KBR
Progressive Ventures Construction
Galore Creek Mining Corporation
Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd
Imperial Metals
Shell
Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines
Sysco Vancouver
Classic Rock CFNR

Prizes were donated by these generous local businesses:
Convoy Construction Supplies
Spectra Energy
Kaman Industrial Technologies
Rudon Hydraulics Ltd
EB Horsman & Son
Air Liquide
Praxair
NAPA Auto Parts
McCarthy Motors GM
Finning Canada
Western Equipment Ltd
Canadian Tire

Welding training means success for Jeff Jaarsma and a Northwest employer

Jeff Jaarsma wanted to be a farmer. “I come from a family of farmers. If I could, I would do that but it’s tough to be a full-time farmer these days.” So, through persistence, he got a job with HY-TECH Drilling Ltd. in Smithers. “An amazing employer,” Jeff says. “HY-TECH spoils me”. 

Jeff’s generous and forward-thinking employer is helping to support him while at Northwest Community College (NWCC) for his Level C welding training (ITA accredited) welder training program where he’s learning all the skills required to be a safe, competent trades worker. Although he could have gone elsewhere, his supervisors recommended that Jeff do his training here.

Jeff says that NWCC’s welding program has been really good, and that his instructors, Peter Haigh and Bruce Neid, are great. “They help you out and we have a lot in common apart from school and work.”

Jeff had done some welding on the job and discovered that he has a knack for it. “I enjoy it,” he says. “I like the end result of having built something. I also like the atmosphere of trades – a more hands-on opportunity. A desk job doesn’t suit me.”

When Jeff finishes is Level C welding training in March he will return to HY-TECH as a much more skilled employee. He can continue on to Level B (intermediate) and Level A (highest level) to become a journeyman welder. 

Heavy equipment builds bright futures

After Jessie Louie graduated from high school in Terrace, she decided that following in her father’s footsteps as a heavy equipment operator would be just the thing for her – well paid, secure work anywhere she might choose to go. So she signed up for Northwest Community College’s Heavy Equipment Operator program. “It can be kind of intimidating at first, but it’s so much fun. I love operating the big rock truck.” says Jessie.

Jessie, who describes herself as a “girly-girl”, is now enrolled in Heavy Equipment Operator Apprenticeship (HEO) program (she completed the Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Foundation program in May 2012) at NWCC. Both programs incorporate training and practice using simulators. The simulators allow students to operate equipment in a realistic and safe environment. Once students complete theory and simulator training, and thoroughly understand how to safely operate equipment, they graduate to hands-on practice on industry-standard heavy equipment in a real-world work setting.

The HEO Apprenticeship training is the next step in Jessie's receiving her journey-person status and Red Seal certification. As BC‘s economy regains strength after the global economic downturn, the Northwest is experiencing rapidly increasing demand for skilled workers from high-growth industries. The federal government’s recent $537,380 investment in NWCC, specifically to expand heavy equipment operator training across the region, allows students to become those proficient and certified HEO operators that are in high demand throughout the region and the province.

After completing the HEO Foundation program, Jessie immediately got a job at Finning working in the CAT Rental Store and operating equipment, and continues to work part-time as she completes her HEO Apprenticeship training at NWCC.

Jessie receives tremendous support from her family, NWCC, Tahltan Central Council, Iskut First Nations band, BC Hydro and Alta Gas. She says she's grateful for all the help and support she receives and is looking forward to all the opportunities and independence her new skills will bring.

NWCC journey comes full circle for 1979 grad

NEW AIYANSH – You just never know when a Northwest Community College (NWCC) graduate will really come in handy. That's exactly what happened to a group of visitors to the Nass Valley from NWCC for the recent Challenging the Paradigm 2012 gathering.

The group took in an enriching day trip to the valley and the recently opened Nisga'a Museum in Laxgalts'ap but bus problems threatened to tarnish the day and delay the group's return for a conference-ending dinner and cultural dance presentation.

Enter Helmer Grandison, owner/operator of Diversified Automotive & Towing since 2000 and a 1979 NWCC grad in Automotive pre-apprenticeship, now known as Automotive Service Technician Foundations. And as the name of his company suggests, through years of hands-on experience and further training, he has become a skilled journeyman mechanic.

When the bus could not be started, it was Grandison that NWCC turned to. "I had to check out the electrical system on the bus," he said. "I'm quite familiar with this kind of bus, the engine and electrical system."

He also readjusted the rear air brakes and in short order, Grandison had the bus running again, a small but significant payback of sorts for the role NWCC played in his life.

"It was the first time I was away from home (New Aiyansh)," said Grandison of his experience at the Terrace Campus some three decades ago. "It was great, it was very fulfilling and I met a lot of new friends. It was an experience."

After graduating, Grandison would spend the next 20 years working in the Nass Valley and in Prince Rupert gaining the experience he would need to go out on his own. And along the way, he's come back to NWCC too. The biggest change in auto mechanics since 1979 is the growth of computer systems in cars and Grandison has come back to NWCC to upgrade his computer analysis skills. He also returned to earn his air brake ticket and enrolled in a computer class to get some of the basic non-mechanic skills he'd need in his business.

Grandison says there are very few mechanics in the Nass Valley and probably only one other one—his brother—who has the expertise the visiting NWCC group required that day. He says the call was a surprise to him but it's all in a day's work for a mechanic in the Nass Valley.

"In my normal day, I get calls late at night and early in the morning," said Grandison. "That's why I call myself Diversified (Automotive & Towing)."

Thanks is also owed to others who helped that day—Earl Munroe, Director of Maintenance at New Aiyansh Village Government, and Leonard Moore and Graham Mackenzie.

NWCC is a valuable community asset impacting the lives of students and our communities. Through its nine campuses, 500-plus employees and an annual injection of more than $30 million in the local economy, NWCC is an economic engine supporting the many communities that look to us to provide innovative programs and services.

College eyes trades boom

From the Terrace Standard March 21, 2012 edition

NORTHWEST COMMUNITY College is looking for nearly $1.5 million to better train people for jobs at major projects in the region.

The money, in the form of grants from the federal government’s Western Economic Diversification Canada program and from Northern Development Initiative Trust, would buy heavy equipment simulators and, later on, heavy equipment itself.

College trades dean Margo Van der Touw describes the need for heavy equipment operators as just part of a growing demand for skilled labour.

“This is a once in a life-time opportunity,” says van der Touw of a list of projects covering everything from mines to power lines to liquefied natural gas plants to hydro-electric facilities and of employees required for each.

Conservative estimates place the dollar value of the projects at more than $10 billion and the job numbers in the thousands.

NWCC trades students walk by examples of the demand everyday – postings and newspaper ads from companies looking for people cover a bulletin board in the hallway of the college’s trades building here in Terrace. Listed wages rates of more than $30 an hour  and attractive benefits are common.

Van der Touw said the college is ideally suited to provide the kind of training that’s needed thanks to its network of campuses and its experience in the region. That’s why she and college trades chair Brian Badge emphasize the college’s ability to take training to where people live.

That mobile ability including packing up everything needed for a heavy equipment operator course, including a mobile simulator, and taking it to Atlin this year.

“We had the carpenters so we were able to build crates for shipping,” said Van der Touw.

The mobile simulators have a TV screen in front of an operator’s seat containing controls and one TV screen behind the seat, displaying exactly what a person would experience in the field.

They’re used in what the college calls the heavy equipment operator foundation program in which a person is trained right up to the point where they can step into the cab of an actual piece of heavy equipment, said Badge.

Hands on training comes from taking the heavy operator equipment technician’s course.

Van der Touw and Badge use a January 2012 study on industrial employment requirements as one of their guides to program development.

Prepared for BC Hydro and originally tied to its Northwest Transmission Line and projects which could develop because of the line, the study also looked at other potential developments.

It concluded that while jobs could soon flood the northwest, area residents need to be trained to take advantage. It also forecasts a skilled labour shortage based on development expectations.

There’s a need, for instance, for drillers and blasters and the college would love to put on a course training people to be commercial arborists, said Badge and Van der Touw.

Badge is also getting used to company representatives turning up at his office door saying they want to hire people. Others tour the college’s trades training facilities.

“Companies know their construction schedules. They know when they will need people” he said.

Unstated in the college’s planning is knowing that if northwesterners aren’t trained, people from elsewhere will be taking those jobs.

“Our goal is to train as many people as we can from our area to benefit from the jobs in the area, “ said Badge. “What we also need to do is make people more aware of the opportunities.” he said.

Badge and Van der Touw say companies have a  vested interest in hiring local people because paying to bring people here costs extra. people from elsewhere and then put them up in accommodation.

“We know that people trained in the north, stay in the north,” said Van der Touw.

And they’re quick to point out that while the focus may be on training for skilled construction and construction-related jobs, there are plenty of opportunities for other skilled trades as well in occupations ranging from culinary arts workers to accountants.

Northwest B.C. jobs plan roll out underway

From the Terrace Standard March 21, 2012 edition

THE PROVINCE is spending more than $500,000 on the start of a plan to train people to work on industrial projects in the region.

Provincial jobs minister Pat Bell said his ministry is spending $540,000 on determining what kind of employees companies need and then starting to train people to fill those needs.

He described the effort as developing a top ten jobs list for the northwest.

“Some of these will be evident, but what we’re really trying to do here is determine what jobs will be needed two, three, four years from now and then work to fill that demand,” said Bell.

The minister expected that jobs list to be finished fairly quickly so the stage can then be set to prepare people for the work.

“We’ll be using Northwest Community College to deliver those programs,” said Bell, adding some of the first may include everything from first aid to brushing up on math and reading skills.

The jobs ministry’s impetus comes from a BC Hydro-organized study which looked at the employment impacts stemming from its Northwest Transmission Line.

Construction has already started on the line which will stretch up Hwy37 North. When finished, the line will spur mine and hydro electric development.

The BC Hydro $217,000 labour market research study, completed late last year, conservatively estimated that large industrial projects will create 4,000 direct and indirect jobs from now until 2021.

Optimistically, the study indicated the number could climb to 5,700 or as high as 12,000.

But it also indicated there was not only an existing gap between skills northwest residents have and what companies need, but that the gap will continue to grow.

“Training for many of these high-demand occupations is only available outside the Northwest,” read the document.

“Local people are available to fill many of the jobs, but a mismatch often exists between the skills of potential workers and the needs of employers,” it continued.

Bell said the demand for skilled labour has already started to grow and will be more evident by the time summer arrives.

“There’s going to be quite a difference from when I first began visiting the region three or four years ago,” said Bell in recalling his days as forest minister.

Bell was also quite clear in saying his ministry’s money was just the beginning of provincial jobs training spending here.

“It won’t be just us. There will be the Industrial Training Authority and the advanced education ministry. It’s going to be a cross-ministerial effort,” he said. “There’s lots more to come.”

The Industry Training  Authority, which finances apprenticeship and other training programs, is a provincial crown agency. It already covers the cost of wages and related expenses for trades programs at Northwest Community College.

Young competitors shine as NWCC hosts trades fair

TERRACE – Several up and coming skilled trades students booked their ticket to the provincial-level BC Skills Competition at Northwest Community College (NWCC) today, one of the highlights of a full day centred on the opportunities of a career in the trades.

As part of a Trades Career Fair on the NWCC Terrace Campus, a total of 50 students from across the Northwest region put their skills on the line in the Skills Canada NWBC Regional Skills Competition. The competition featured three streams, one for post-secondary, one for students in high school and one open to elementary and junior high school students.

The post-secondary and high school students competed in five individual competition categories and the deserving winners were:

Automotive Service - Marcus Wilman (Caledonia Senior Secondary), first place; Mat Demelo (Caledonia Senior Secondary), second place; and Keifer Larson (Hazelton Secondary), third place.
Carpentry - Katie Julseth (Skeena Junior) was the winner; Steven Morrison (Kitwanga) in second place; and Brandon Stella (Caledonia Senior Secondary) in third.
Culinary Arts/Professional Cook - Stephen Bolton (NWCC), first place; John Hollaar (NWCC), second place; and Marvin Samuel (NWCC), third place.
Electrical Wiring - Tommy Prauteau (Charles Hayes Secondary), first place; Avery Green (Caledonia Secondary) in second; and Justin Watson (Charles Hayes Secondary) taking third place.
Welding, post-secondary category (see picture) - Crystal Pottinger, right, (Smithers Secondary) in first; Kyle Clement, left, (Mount Elizabeth Secondary), second; and Walker Sturko, second from left, (Caledonia Senior Secondary) placing third. Second from right is NWCC Welding instructor Rich Seinen.

At the high school level, ACE IT student Shanna Shirey won first place in the Culinary competition. Also at the high school level, the top three finishers in the Welding competition were: Daniel Dahler (Mt. Elizabeth Secondary), first place; Nathaniel Velho (Mt. Elizabeth Secondary), second place; and Andrew Brais (Skeena Junior Secondary), third place.

These winning students earned prizes donated by event sponsors and first place winners qualify for a spot at the provincial-level competition. Winners at the BC level could go on to compete at Nationals or even the World Skills event held bi-annually!

In the Junior Skills category with teams of students in grades 6-9, the Grade 5 boys team from Thornhill Elementary prevailed in the exciting Spaghetti Bridge Building competition, edging out two other teams, the Grade 6 girls (2nd place) and the Grade 7 boys, all from Thornhill Elementary.

The Skills Canada NWBC Regional Skills Competition was just one part of NWCC's day-long Trades Career Fair. At least 500 people attended throughout the day, bringing industry representatives and potential employers together with job-seekers and NWCC Trades department with all the information about training options offered at the College. There were hands-on skills demonstrations, Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) simulators to try, bus tours to the live site of HEO training, trades shops and campus tours, plus a free barbecue lunch prepared by NWCC Culinary Arts students.

The Northwest is on the verge of an economic boom expected to bring up to $30 billion in investment. Of the jobs associated with the major projects, roughly two-thirds of them are in the Trades, Transport and Equipment Operator-related fields. In short, it's a great time to get Trades training at NWCC, where students can choose from Trades Foundation and Apprenticeship training in a number of fields, plus industry-ready certifications that employers are looking for. After all, BC Stats show that 78 percent of projected job openings in the province will require training at the post-secondary level.

Competitions provide a forum for pre-college students to develop and showcase their technical skills. And while the competition is for fun, the rewards are potentially great. On the line for the competing post-secondary and secondary school-aged students are prizes and places for category winners to advance to provincial-level competition. Winners at the BC level could go on to compete at Nationals or even the World Skills event held bi-annually!

Skills Canada British Columbia is a provincial, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, associations, labour groups and government to promote skilled trade and technology careers to youth.

Seabridge Gold was the Platinum sponsor for both events, and other sponsors were BC Hydro, Progressive Ventures, Ridley Terminals, Maher Terminals, Imperial Metals, Kitimat LNG/Apache, Bechtel Canada/Rio Tinto Alcan, and Enbridge Northern Gateway. Industry sponsorship is vital to the success of both these events and other collaborations with NWCC.

The ITA Women in Trades Training Initiative marks milestone participant numbers on International Women’s Day

(Industry Training Authority news release) RICHMOND, BC – More women are discovering that a career in the skilled trades offers increased job satisfaction, independence, and higher pay. On International Women’s Day, the Women in Trades Training (WITT) initiative, funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and overseen by the Industry Training Authority (ITA), is launching an exciting media campaign to mark the milestone of 1,500 women participating in trades training programs across B.C.

The multi-faceted campaign will launch on March 8, 2012 to help raise awareness around the benefits of programs offered through the ITA Women in Trades Training initiative and to help encourage employers to consider sponsoring a woman apprentice.

 

Our campaign will highlight the inspiring story of Cathy Minty, a first year Plumber apprentice and mother of five. After completing her level 1 technical training through the Piping Industry Apprenticeship Board (PIAB), Cathy has started her first year of work-based training, embarking on a life-changing career in the skilled trades industry. Cathy’s story will be told through a variety of video and print materials.

 

Finally, a series of print ads featuring women apprentices will be published in community newspapers across B.C., including The Terrace Standard, Prince George Free Press, Kamloops Daily News, Kelowna Capital News, Nanaimo Daily News and the Journal of Commerce. Advertisements will begin appearing March 7^th and will run until the end of the month.

 

We are very excited to share this announcement with you and encourage you to go to WITTapprentices.ca for more information about the campaign, and to review the complete library of background materials on apprenticeship and the ITA Women in Trades Training initiative.

 

For more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 1-866-660-6011 or by emailing [email protected].

Trades competition and career fair part of jam-packed day

TERRACE – Northwest Community College (NWCC) Terrace Campus will be abuzz with Trades activities in a week's time. On Friday, March 9, NWCC hosts the Skills Canada NWBC Regional Skills Competition and a Trades Career Fair. It's all happening from 9am to 4pm in Waap Amgam (House of Cedar).

A total of 50 students from across the Northwest region have signed up for the Skills Canada NWBC Regional Skills Competition, a healthy boost in numbers from recent years. The competition features three streams, one for post-secondary, one for students in high school and one open to elementary and junior high school students. The post-secondary and high school students will compete in five individual competition categories: Automotive Service (8 participants), Carpentry (13), Culinary Arts/Professional Cook (18), Electrical Wiring (2), and Welding (9). In the Junior Skills category, the Spaghetti Bridge Building competition also received three team entries totalling 15 students in grades 6-9.

With a focus already on Trades, NWCC is hosting a Trades Career Fair. The all-day event is open to everyone and is a great opportunity for job-seekers, parents and students searching for the right career, career-changers looking to move to the Trades, and those exploring training options at NWCC. Everyone is welcome to come and experience hands-on skills demonstrations, try our Heavy Equipment Operator simulators, meet with industry representatives and potential employers, take campus tours and enjoy a free barbecue lunch prepared by NWCC Culinary Arts students.

The Northwest is on the verge of an economic boom expected to bring up to $30 billion in investment. Of the jobs associated with the major projects, roughly two-thirds of them are in the Trades, Transport and Equipment Operator-related fields. In short, it's a great time to get Trades training at NWCC, where students can choose from Trades Foundation and Apprenticeship training in a number of fields, plus industry-ready certifications that employers are looking for. After all, BC Stats show that 78 percent of projected job openings in the province will require training at the post-secondary level.

"This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in a career in Trades,“ said NWCC Dean of Trades Margo Van der Touw of the two events next week. "The next generation of skilled tradespeople will be displaying their skills for any spectators that want to watch and NWCC's Trades Department will open your eyes to the possibilities of a career that is rewarding, challenging and in demand."

Competitions provide a forum for pre-college students to develop and showcase their technical skills. And while the competition is for fun, the rewards are potentially great. On the line for the competing post-secondary and secondary school-aged students are prizes and places for category winners to advance to provincial-level competition. Winners at the BC level could go on to compete at Nationals or even the World Skills event held bi-annually!

Skills Canada British Columbia is a provincial, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, associations, labour groups and government to promote skilled trade and technology careers to youth.

Seabridge Gold is the Platinum sponsor for both events, and other sponsors are BC Hydro, Progressive Ventures, Ridley Terminals, Maher Terminals, Imperial Metals, Kitimat LNG/Apache, Bechtel Canada/Rio Tinto Alcan, and Enbridge Northern Gateway. Industry sponsorship is vital to the success of both these events and other collaborations with NWCC.

NWCC to be Trades central in early March

 TERRACE – The Northwest region's next generation of skilled trades people will converge on Northwest Community College (NWCC) in early March as the Terrace Campus hosts the Skills Canada NWBC Regional Skills Competition.

The competition features three streams, one for post-secondary, one for students in high school and one open to elementary and junior high school students. The post-secondary and high school students will compete in five individual competition categories: carpentry, welding, automotive repair, professional cook and electrical wiring.

The Junior Skills competition, with Gravity Vehicle and Spaghetti Bridge contests, is open to students in Grades 6-9. All junior events are team events and teams can be made up of three to five students who may be in different grades.

"We are very proud to be hosting this event," said NWCC Dean of Trades Margo Van der Touw. "The Skills Canada NWBC Skills Competition encourages excellence for the next generation of trades people and,most importantly, it is good, friendly competition."

Competitions provide a forum for pre-college students to develop and showcase their technical skills. And while the competition is for fun, the rewards are potentially great. On the line for the competing secondary school-aged students are prizes and places for category winners to advance to provincial-level competition. Winners at the BC level could go on to compete at Nationals or even the World Skills event held bi-annually!

With so many young people interested in Trades already on campus for the Skills Canada NWBC event, NWCC will host a Trades Career Fair, a public event from 9am to 4pm. The fair will offer everything you ever wanted to know about Trades careers. Experience hands-on skills demonstrations, try our Heavy Equipment Operator simulators, meet with industry representatives and potential employers, take campus tours and enjoy a free barbecue lunch prepared by NWCC Culinary Arts students.

"There's never been a better time to pursue a career in Trades, especially here in the Northwest," said Van der Touw. "You can get the skills you need at NWCC to take advantage of the big projects coming to the region. Be sure to visit the Trades Career Fair on Friday, March 9."

The secondary school level group is open to any Northwest student attending a secondary-level school at any time between July 1, 2011 and March 9, 2012. Competitors must be less than 22 years old on Dec. 31, 2012.

Registration for secondary level and post-secondary level competition categories for the Skills Canada NWBC event is now open. Register online at www.skillscanada.bc.ca

Skills Canada British Columbia is a provincial, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, associations, labour groups and government to promote skilled trade and technology careers to youth.

NWCC thanks Seabridge Gold (major sponsor), BC Hydro, Progressive Ventures, Ridley Terminals, Maher Terminals, Imperial Metals, Kitimat LNG/ Apache, Bechtel Canada/Rio Tinto Alcan, and Enbridge Northern Gateway for their sponsorship of both events.