ITA TRADES TALK FALL/WINTER 2015 71INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY ITABC.CA

Talk.Trades

C E O M E s s a g E

Employers: Key players on the trades training landscapeThis year marks the 80th anniversary of formalized trades training in our province—and it goes without saying that apprenticeship sponsors have been, and always will be, a crucial component to the ongoing success of our “how-to” economy.

Our ability to make things, from mercantile and manufacturing to transportation and heavy industrial, and to pass this knowledge on for years to come, requires employers who are willing to provide hands-on experience to apprentices beginning their journey towards certification.

To celebrate apprenticeship, and the BC employers who remain committed to training the future generation of tradespeople, ITA launched the Proud Sponsors of Youth Apprentices Tour in collaboration with school districts across the province....continued /7

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Professional cook achieves five star success in Canada

IN THIS ISSUE

VOlume 2 | ISSue 3

Fall/Winter 2015

Employer profile

Youth initiatives

aboriginal initiatives

in the News

ita at Work

OpsN Updates

Empowering Red seal holders with the RsE acronym

Recognizing BC’s employer sponsors

Celebrating 80 years of apprenticeship in BC

ITA’s Immigrants in Trades Training (ITT) initiative is designed to help immigrants overcome specific financial, cultural, and other challenges to establish a trades career. Thanks to this initiative, Grace Wu from China is on a successful career track with a bright future.

The 60-hour work week was starting to take a toll on Grace as an immigrant and newly single mother. Working as a kitchen helper for one employer, and as a dishwasher for another, she

Gary Herman, CEO, ITA, presents an appreciation award to Pattie Tebbutt, District Principle, Abbotsford Career Programs Team, School District 34.

knew she would have to quickly upgrade her skillset in order to take care of her two daughters.

“my dream was to become a Red Seal Chef in a five star hotel,” said Grace. “I love that people can enjoy my food.” So Grace started looking for resources to help her achieve success in Canada. She was quickly directed to explore her options with ITA’s Immigrants in Trades Training (ITT) program in her community.

With funding from ITT, Grace was able to complete the Cooking eSl program at Vancouver Community College (VCC). Her first practicum was at a senior’s home, and her second was at the Pan Pacific, a five star hotel. “my dream was starting to come true!” said Grace.

Following her graduation, Grace accepted a job at the Pan Pacific, and is on her way to becoming Red Seal certified. In the meantime, she is able to support herself and her family, earning enough to have a good life in Canada. Grace’s advice to other immigrants is “to stay strong, work hard, and keep a positive attitude.”

learn more about how Immigrants in Trades Training (ITT) can help you.

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E M p l O Y E R p R O f i l E

K-Line’s skilled trades apprentices are ‘ready to hatch’

Over the years, Langley-based manufacturing company K-Line Trailers Ltd. has struggled to find skilled labour, so they decided to change the training game. With over 20 apprentices on board and working, K-Line is an employer who’s setting an excellent example in BC, growing workers on their home turf to benefit the industry as a whole.

“We call it ‘The Incubator’,” says Ian lowe, Plant Superintendent at K-line Trailers ltd. “It consists of six welding booths similar to what you would find in a post-secondary setting.” This is where the magic happens at K-line—in this unique department K-line created to train apprentices.

Once an apprentice has completed four months in ‘The Incubator’, fabricating and welding smaller components, they are typically ‘ready to hatch’—in other words, graduate into their specialty and onto the worksite.

This training department was originally created for two reasons. “First of all, there were not enough apprentices coming through vocational schools, so we decided it was time we grow our own,” explains lowe. “And second, rather than throw a young worker into a fast-paced working environment, we prefer to integrate them at a slower, safer pace.”

With an aging workforce, K-line recognizes the need to train workers well to fill positions in the industry. Working closely with ITA’s youth programs and school districts, they hand pick energetic and motivated workers who have the desire and potential to advance in the skilled trades.

“The demand for skilled tradespeople has not and will not go down,” says lowe. “At K-line, we hire and train apprentices because we support apprenticeship and want to keep our young people moving forward. The more apprentices we train well, the better off we are as a group.”

It’s time to be proud to be a tradesperson again, and as an apprentice at K-line, you will be ‘ready to hatch’ into the world of skilled trades in no time.

Find out more about what it means to be an employer sponsor.

Y O U t h i N i t i at i v E s

Bringing ‘making’ into the classroomA joint initiative between ITA and UBC Okanagan’s Innovative Learning Centre, Maker Day is an immersive professional development event for educators. It brings trades and technology to teachers with hands-on learning that encourages invention, prototyping and experimenting in the classroom.

As a granting program under ITA’s Youth Initiatives, maker Day promotes bringing ‘making’ into the classroom. It is an opportunity for educators to learn how to integrate design thinking in their teaching, and provide their students with a fun and innovative approach to learning.

“Bringing ‘making’ into schools is not about having a maker-space, it’s about developing the mindset. Once you have the mindset, the possibilities are endless,” says Sabinah Rafiq, manager, Youth Initiatives, ITA. “We’re seeing educators incorporating ‘making’ into science class, home economics class, and even Spanish class, where students learn how to think outside the box and have multiple perspectives.”

Typically, on a maker Day, participants are divided into groups, and each group is given a design challenge and a bag of supplies to build a prototype. At the end of the day, there is a showcase

of all the different creations. learning through ‘making’ is fun and engaging, not only for students, but for teachers as well.

There have been several maker Day events this year in various school districts, including one in October with the Computer using educators of BC (CueBC). Three maker Day events are coming up in the New Year in Chilliwack, Smithers and Hope.

Find out how to bring maker Day to your school district.

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a B O R i g i N a l i N i t i at i v E s

Skills Training Plan to address employment needs of Aboriginal People

Enhanced source for Aboriginal People, people with disabilities, and youth

Y O U t h i N i t i at i v E s

“Earn while you learn” program gives students a jump start in their apprenticeships

The Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) program is a dual-credit program that provides BC students in grades 10, 11 and 12 with the opportunity to get a jump start on their apprenticeship journey by earning hands-on experience in a real workplace to complement their classroom training.

Students involved in the SSA program “earn while they learn” by starting the work-based training component of an apprenticeship program with an employer sponsor while still in secondary school. This program gives students the experience of what it’s like to work onsite, helping them better choose a career pathway, which makes the transition from the classroom to the workplace much smoother in the long-run.

This past fall, ITA announced its annual investment and allocation of funds to support the SSA program within school districts across the province. Twenty-six school districts were approved to receive the funding, which will help cover the costs involved in supporting youth through their apprenticeships and connecting them with employer sponsors.

Justin Shearer completed his SSA program as a Heavy Duty mechanic this past summer, and it would not have been possible without his employer sponsor, RJB Trucking, in 100 mile House. As a result of Justin’s hard work and RJB Trucking’s support and guidance, he is now in the best place possible to start his career. In fact, RJB Trucking was so impressed with Justin’s dedication, work ethic, and willingness to learn, that they recently hired him as a permanent employee.

learn how you can get involved in the Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) program.

BC labour market projections identify significant employment opportunities in the skilled trades due to the impending retirements, as well as new opportunities generated from current and proposed projects. To fill this incoming demand, why not draw on the talent and capabilities of people currently under-represented in the skilled trades?

Aboriginal People, people with disabilities, and youth will find expanded information on three newly customized WorkBC.ca pages.

All three pages feature valuable resources and tools, broken down into five easy-to-navigate tabs, so you can find and explore all the information you need in one place.

1. explore careers – engage Career Compass, Career Trek videos and other career exploration tools. They’ll make your career path decision-making easier.

2. Open doors to education and marketable job skills – Discover post-secondary education and trades training programs. learn

ITA is listening, and has taken action. A strategic and comprehensive plan is currently under development to continue the momentum ITA’s Aboriginal Initiatives has gained since its inception, with the goal to build relationships and provide services that will grow future opportunities for Aboriginal communities. The Aboriginal Initiatives Skills Training Plan was developed in consultation with a full range of stakeholders and support agencies, and directly aligns with B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to increase the number of Aboriginal People in the skilled trades by 15,000 over the next 10 years.

Find out more about ITA’s Aboriginal in Trades Training Initiatives (AITT).

about sources of education funding that can help you reach your goals.

3. Find a job – Access information and support to boost your job search success. explore thousands of BC job postings by industry, region, salary and more.

4. Start a business – like the idea of working for yourself? learn what it’s all about. Then find resources that will help you get started on making your own business a reality.

5. Get inspired – View success story videos and stories for a window on the paths others have taken. learn about the challenges they faced and their stepping-stones to great learning, employment, and entrepreneurship experiences.

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i N t h E N E W s

Meet Marlin Ratch, Apprenticeship Advisor for the South East region of BC

ITA has introduced 15 Apprenticeship Advisors across the province to help enhance ITA capability by better connecting and informing communities about the BC apprenticeship system. Marlin Ratch, based in Cranbrook, tells us what he’s learned on the job so far.

ITA Trades Talk: What is your connection to the Cranbrook community?

Marlin: I came to the Kootenays in 1980, and took up my Chef training in Cranbrook at the east Kootenay Community College (now College of the Rockies). I completed my journeyperson status at a local hotel, and when I changed careers, I became an employment counselor for métis Nation BC employment in Cranbrook.

ITA Trades Talk: How do you want your role to impact the local trades community?

Marlin: I would like to see more youth taking full advantage of the trades. There is so much more to trades careers than just working on the tools. Any journeyperson knows that in addition to all the classroom learning, superior technical ability, hand-eye coordination, and spatial thinking is required on the job site. Your certification in the trades can open many doors along your career pathway. many executive members or managers in the trades are certified journey people. You never know where certification will take you.

ITA Trades Talk: What advice would you give someone looking to get started in the trades in the South east region of BC?

Marlin: Research, research, research! Too many people jump into things before they fully understand what they are getting themselves into. look at your options and make an educated choice. One place to start is ITA's website where you will find a list of trades and their descriptors. In the long run, you will have a brighter path to follow towards a fulfilling career.

Find an Apprenticeship Advisor in your region.

Apprentice gets spotlight treatment for her drive and commitmentIf there was a quote that described machinist apprentice Jazmine morrison and her apprenticeship journey, it would be, “winners are not people who never fail, but people who never quit.”

upon graduating from the machinist Foundation program, Jazmine, a member of the Kispiox community in Hazelton, BC, found herself confronted with the challenge of finding an employer sponsor to continue her apprenticeship. However, Jazmine was not about to quit – she was determined to succeed. With the help of the Aboriginal Community Career employment Services Society (ACCeSS), Jazmine is now a coveted machinist apprentice at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) working at the largest bolt manufacturer in Western Canada.

Rebecca Hackett, employment Counsellor, ACCeSS, only had great things to say about Jazmine’s attitude and commitment to her career. Along her journey, every time Jazmine came upon challenges, she reached out for guidance and worked hard to overcome them.

“Jazmine often visited ACCeSS for advice on education, resume building, and employment,” says Rebecca. “And at the Steel Day

event earlier this year, I was blown away at how community and industry leaders also recognized Jazmine’s drive, speaking very highly of her.”

“This helped me realize that as long as I remained dedicated, there would always be someone cheering me on and supporting me in the background,” explains Jazmine.

Today, Jazmine is thriving in her role as a machinist apprentice at Pacific Bolt manufacturing ltd., gaining respect from her peers and management team.

learn about ITA's apprenticeship programs and get your start in the skilled trades.

a B O R i g i N a l i N i t i at i v E s

E-CCW Program Steering Committee testimonialsHear from the enhanced Construction Craft Worker (e-CCW) Steering Committee about what ITA is doing to help Aboriginal People enter the skilled trades and address the labour demand in the lNG and construction industries in BC.

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ITA CEO talks opportunity at LNG conference

Leaders from government, industry, business and First Nations gathered at the Vancouver Convention Centre in October for the third annual International LNG in BC Conference.

The annual event showcases what BC has to offer to the international lNG marketplace, and provides the opportunity for businesses and lNG proponents to connect and network. A variety of keynote speeches and industry panels took place

this year, including a panel discussion in which ITA’s Chief executive Officer, Gary Herman, was a participant.

The panel discussion focused on post-secondary leaders; more specifically, how they are transforming education and training the workforce needed for BC’s lNG industry. From ITA’s standpoint, Herman spoke to some of the initiatives and programs ITA has in play to prepare for the incoming demand for skilled labour in the lNG sector; such as, designating Construction Craft Worker (CCW) as BC’s 48th Red Seal Trade, and developing the enhanced Construction Craft Worker (e-CCW) pilot program for Aboriginal People.

In addition to Herman, other panelists included: Kathy Kinloch, President, BC Institute of Technology; Dr. Bryn Kulmatycki, President and CeO, Northern lights College; and Ken Tourand, President, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. Dr. martha Piper, President and Vice Chancellor of the university of British Columbia, served as panel moderator.

learn more about ITA's Action Plan for lNG Trades Training.

Former Dean of Trades heads up operations at ITA

There’s a lot going on in British Columbia, especially as the continued demand for an effective skilled trades system is concerned. That’s why ITA has selected Jeff Lekstrom, former Dean of Trades at Northern Lights College (NLC), to join ITA’s dedicated senior leadership team as Chief Operating Officer (COO).

i N t h E N E W s

This year marks Vancouver Community College’s (VCC) 50th anniversary. To celebrate, the post-secondary institution put on a gala in November called 50 Years. 50 Chefs. that treated guests to a memorable evening showcasing the work of VCC’s highest-achieving students, faculty members and alumni.

ITA Apprenticeship Advisor celebrates 50 years with VCC

lekstrom brings a diverse perspective to his new role at ITA, stemming from a skilled trades-related background. Not only is lekstrom a Red Seal Welder, but following his career at NlC, he held the position of General Superintendent at Freeport mcmoRan Copper and Gold in Papua, Indonesia. In this particular role, he was involved with the operation of a large mining school that provided education to help indigenous people find sustainable careers in the mining industry.

most recently, lekstrom has been providing consulting services to ITA on the Pan-Canadian Harmonization project to standardize Red Seal training across the country, with the goal of enhancing labour mobility in Canada. Now, as the COO at ITA, lekstrom will be responsible for customer service, industry relations, training delivery, Aboriginal initiatives, and program standards activities.

Find out more about ITA’s senior leadership team.

Andrew George, ITA’s Fraser Valley Apprenticeship Advisor, graduated from VCC in 1985. He was selected as one of the 50 Chefs to participate at this event, passing out tasty creations as one of Vancouver’s leading culinary minds. He has experience across Canada, from the Chateau Whistler Hotel to the International

Tourism and Hospitality School of Quebec, and is a Hereditary Wing Chief for the Bear Clan in the traditional system of the Wet’suwet’en people.

At the gala, in addition to the delicious assortment of culinary creations, guests were able to enjoy and experience the best of VCC's fashion arts, auto restoration, live music and more.

learn how you can be part of the next generation of amazing Professional Cooks.

Employers: Watch your mailbox!A step-by-step guide on how to use Apprentice Job match, the online tool specifically designed to connect skilled trades employers and apprentices, is coming to your mailbox! With over 8,000 apprentices available, the time is now to sponsor, train, and prepare these skilled workers to meet your workplace needs.

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BC employers celebrated for giving youth apprentices a leg up in their careersThe right apprenticeship experience can change a student’s career path. With 80 percent of training taking place on the worksite, employer sponsors provide hands-on experience to apprentices, and constitute an essential component of the apprenticeship journey towards certification.

To recognize the outstanding employers who are hiring and training youth apprentices in BC, ITA launched the Proud Sponsors of Youth Apprentices Tour. making its way to local communities across the province, the tour also set out to acknowledge school districts and educators for their dedication to connecting students and employers, and for their ongoing support of ITA's youth programs.

This year, 13 school districts and their associated employers were recognized for preparing and setting students on the path towards a successful career in the skilled trades.

Take a look at some of the employer sponsors making a difference in your community.

Partners in Trades event hosts Memorandum of Understanding signing In October, ITA co-hosted the Partners in Trades event in Richmond, alongside uA local 170 and the BC Aboriginal Training employment Alliance members (BCATeAm). every year, the event brings

together representatives from Aboriginal employment service agencies, building trades unions, and industry members to establish partnerships and gain a greater understanding of the Aboriginal workforce.

Over 100 stakeholders were able to participate at this year’s event, which included various forums, site tours, workshops, and a traditional musqueam Witness Ceremony. In addition, there was a signing of a memorandum of understanding between 15 Aboriginal Skills employment and Training agencies in BC and 18 BC building trades unions to support and advocate for greater Aboriginal participation in BC’s labour market and economy.

learn more about ITA’s Aboriginal Initiatives.

ITA has been hard at work to create a world class apprenticeship system for British Columbians since the launch of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the release of recommendations in the mcDonald Report. Here are just a few of the many actions ITA has delivered on to help ensure all supports are in place to advance apprenticeship completion across the province.

i ta at W O R k

Helping build the trades that build BC OPSN Updates

ITA recently issued these Official Program Standards Notifications (OPSNs) covering BC trades training. Changes specified in these OPSNs should be read in conjunction with individual program profiles.

Changes were made to the following programs:

•Carpenter: Revised Program Outline.

• Specialty metals endorsement (Welder): Program to be re-titled multi-Process Alloy Welding (mPAW).

• Instrumentation and Control Technician (Industrial Instrument mechanics): Revised Program Outline.

• Heavy mechanical Trades (HDeT, Dem & TTm): launch of level exams for level 2 and 3.

• Industrial mechanic (millwright): Revised Program Outline.

• Automotive Service Technician 2: Revised Program Outline.

• metal Fabricator (Fitter): launch date of level exam for level 1, 2, and 3 delayed until further notice.

• Hairstylist: Revised Program Profile and Outline.

• multi-Process Allow Welding (mPAW) endorsement: Challenge Pathway open.

• Construction Craft Worker: Revised Program Outline.

• Saw Filer: Bank Review in Progress.

• Power line Technician: launch date of level exam for level 1 and 2 delayed until further notice.

• Industrial Instrument mechanic: launch date of level exam for level 1, 2, and 3 delayed until further notice.

Empowering Red Seal holders with the RSE acronym

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) recently announced the official recognition of the RSe (Red Seal endorsement) acronym, lending way to immediate recognition of the program as the Canadian standard of excellence for the skilled trades.

Find out more about the new RSe Acronym, and how this will raise the profile of journeypersons everywhere.

ITA TRADES TALK FALL/WINTER 2015 77INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY ITABC.CA

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trades talk strives to report on the issues and challenges that matter to you. We want to hear your solutions, best practices and success stories. We would also appreciate your feedback on trades talk and any suggestions you have.

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Recognizing BC’s employer sponsors

Jeff Lekstrom, COO, ITA; Kyle Preston, Apprenticeship Advisor, ITA; and Doug Podetz, Apprenticeship Advisor, ITA, present a Certificate of Recognition to Greg Koopman, President, Sealand Aerospace and some of his team members in Campbell River, BC.

Gary Herman, CEO, ITA, and Doug Podetz, Apprenticeship Advisor, ITA, present a Certificate of Recognition to Tyler Gilbertson, Service Manager, Inland Kenworth Parker Pacific, and his team of apprentices and journey people in Campbell River, BC.

Gary Herman, CEO, ITA, and Doug Podetz, Apprenticeship Advisor, ITA, present a Certificate of Recognition to Bryan Pitkin, Project Manager, Graham Construction, and his team of apprentices in Campbell River, BC.

Gary Herman, CEO, ITA, and Doug Podetz, Apprenticeship Advisor, ITA, present a Certificate of Recognition to Rick Bayko, General Manager, DenMar Electric; Chris Turnbull, Operations Manager, DenMar Electric; and their team of apprentices in Nanaimo, BC.

Certificates of Recognition are presented to employers who make a difference in BC by sponsoring apprentices, helping to guarantee skilled, prepared workers to meet labour demands.

In October, ITA visited employers in Nanaimo and Campbell River to thank them for sponsoring and training the future of skilled trades.

Take a look at some of the employer sponsors making a difference in your community.

You too can show off being an employer sponsor by displaying the “Proud employer” icon at your office or on your website. Order a decal or download the web version.

Celebrating 80 years of apprenticeship in BCOn June 27, 1935, British Columbia passed the Apprenticeship Act which set out to regulate and support apprenticeship across the province. Find out more about the important role apprenticeship and trades certification has played in our province’s history, and the role it continues to play now by reading ITA CeO Gary Herman’s guest editorial in the Vancouver Province newspaper.

Over 110 employer sponsors were recognized for their ongoing efforts in community and industry, helping to prepare youth to meet future economic demands.

All sponsors recognized during this tour support the Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) program, one of ITA’s dual-credit youth programs, by providing students with the hands-on experience they need to begin their apprenticeships while still in secondary school. The provincial government and ITA recently announced their annual investment and allocation of funds to support this ‘earn while you learn’ program, helping to connect youth with participating employers.

Building the trades that build BC would be a difficult feat without committed apprentice sponsors, and at ITA, we recognize how much we need them to effectively mold the next generation of skilled tradespeople. | gary herman, Chief Executive Officer

CEO Message from / 1