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C E O M E S S A G E

S P O T L I G H T

A career in the trades: ACE IT, grab it, and run with ityouth to help us make connec-tions and get a leg up in ourcareers, and the fact that ITAeven offers such programswas the key to getting my footin the door.”

When Danica was three years old,her family discovered she hada hearing imparement and hiredher hearing teacher, MelindaNewman. “If there is one partic-ular person I would like to thankfor pushing me constantly, that ismy hearing teacher,” says Danica.“She has been a constantsupport and was the one whointroduced me to the ACE ITprogram.”

Danica finds the work she doesto be different every day, pre-senting unique challenges thata ‘behind the desk’ job doesn’toffer, and she finds overcomingthese challenges to be a rewardin itself. “A jobsite environmentis much less forgiving and muchstricter on project completion,but with that being said, myeducation and mentors along

the way have adequately pre-pared me for these challenges,”says Danica.

Danica’s one and only goal is tobe happy with where she goes inher life, even if it might resem-ble a rollercoaster ride, and sheis thankful that she will alwayshave her ticket to fall back on,wherever life takes her. “ITAgave me the connection to theschooling, to the opportunity,and to the career—now I justhave to grab it and run with it.”

• Learn how you can get involvedin the ACE IT program.

The Accelerated Credit Enrollmentin Industry Training (ACE IT) is aprogram that allows high schoolstudents to take first level tech-nical training, giving them dualcredit for high school courses,and apprenticeship or industrytraining programs. The programhas provided an introduction totrades training for over 15,000students.

Ever since Danica Lum wasa little girl, she knew that thetrades would be a big part ofher life, and since she has com-pleted the ACE IT MillwrightFoundation program at KwantlenPolytechnic University, this hasbecome a reality.

“I’ve always liked buildingthings— be it wooden jewelryin woodworking class, or ringsand necklaces in metal designclass. These were the classes Ilooked forward to most in highschool,” Danica recalls.“Thankfully, I have grown upin a generation that offersapprenticeship programs to

Making connections: Building a skilled BCBuilding connections within the trades community has been a crucial aspect of growing skilled trades inBC, and the Industry Training Authority (ITA) has taken many actions to ensure that we are all workingtogether—industry, educators, employers and apprentices alike—to improve BC’s skilled trades systemas a coordinated and synchronized team.

Following the launch of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the release of the recommendations in theMcDonald Report, the groundwork has been laid out, and we have been hard at work to become moreresponsive to industry and sector needs by bridging the gaps to make sure everything and everyoneis in tune with the trades landscape.

Aware that finding an employer sponsor is one of the biggest hurdles to a successful apprenticeship, ITAand WorkBC introduced an online Apprentice Job Match tool, which has been a welcome …continued/7

I N T H I S I S S U E

Finbar O’SullivanApprenticeship Advisor

Apprentice Job Match Tool

JOEY Restaurants:Red Seal Certified Chefs

Youth Day:Employers ensure transitions

Growing your company:Orienting tradeswomen

Building partnerships in support of Aboriginal Peoples

Program Updates

Question of the Quarter

Kwantlen Polytechnic University MillwrightFoundation Program graduate Danica Lam.

VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 3

Winter 2015

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Meet Finbar O’Sullivan, the Apprenticeship Advisor for the BC Interior I N T H E N E W S

Since October 2014, ITA hashosted four successful Appren-ticeship Advisor Open Houses inDawson Creek, Victoria, Cranbrookand Kamloops to introduce the nextwave of regional ApprenticeshipAdvisors to their communities. Atotal of 15 Apprenticeship Advisorshave been hired to help enhanceITA capability by better connectingand informing communities aboutthe BC apprenticeship system.

Kelowna’s Finbar O’Sullivan, was one of the first four regional Advisors.

ITA Trades Talk: What kind of connections helped you get your startin the skilled trades?

I think we completely underestimate the part that mentors play in therole of the apprentice. It was my very own shop teacher who openedup my eyes to the world of trades. During the tour of my first shop, Iknew this was the place I wanted to be, and my shop teacher helpedme see that.

ITA Trades Talk: What are some of the challenges that you’ve seenemployers or apprentices encounter in your region?

The biggest challenge employers have is keeping their apprentices,whereas the biggest challenge apprentices have is finding work withemployers. It is quite the dichotomy.

ITA Trades Talk: How have you helped a local apprentice or employermake connections in your role as Apprenticeship Advisor?

It really is as simple as a connection. For instance, I was talking to anemployer who was looking for a second year Automotive ServiceTechnician apprentice, and I had recently talked to a parent whoseson was looking for automotive work. All I did was put them in touch.

ITA Trades Talk:What are some of the most promising opportunities inthe skilled trades that Kelowna and the surrounding area have to offer?

The most promising opportunities in the trades revolve around theservice industry. For instance, there are huge opportunities in the auto-motive industry, such as collision repair. Construction trades are alsopicking up speed.

ITA Trades Talk: What advice would you give someone looking to getstarted in the trades in the Okanagan?

Explore all the trades until you find something you have a passion for.I guarantee you will find work and finish your apprenticeship if youfollow your heart. It’s not all about the money—if you want to be aWelder, you should love to build things.

ITA Trades Talk: What do you see as some of the benefits of a careerin the trades?

My trade has allowed me to come to Canada, it has fed my family, ithas given me financial freedom, and most importantly, it has given methe freedom to do what I want to do. If you are good at your trade andyou have a passion for it, you will never be out of work.

ITA Trades Talk: What goals do you have to help support and raiseawareness for the trades training system in your region?

For the next six months, I have made it a personal commitment towork really hard with the school districts. By touching base withthem once per week and making myself available to them, I willwork to keep them informed about what is going on in the skilledtrades training system.

• Learn more about Finbar O’Sullivan and find an ApprenticeshipAdvisor in your region.

Facts about BC’s Thompson Okanagan region• 5,110 registered apprentices

• Over 700 employer sponsors

• 12,720 trades job openings between 2010 and 2020° 3,140 expansion° 9,580 replacement

• Growing sectors:° Health Care and Social Assistance ° Manufacturing° Transportation

• Top trades in demand:° Carpenters and Cabinetmakers° Machinery and Transportation Equipment Mechanics° Automotive Service Technicians° Chefs and Cooks

• By 2020, it is expected that there will be a total of 37,790tradespeople working in the area

Jeff Nugent among 40 Under 40 awardedBusiness in Vancouver’s Forty Under 40Awards anually acknowledges theachievement of BC’s most outstandingentrepreneurs, executives and profes-sionals in public or private business andnon-profit sectors. Winners are under40 years old and have demonstratedexcellence in business judgment, lead-ership, and community contribution.

This year’s distinguished listacknowledges the Industry TrainingAuthority’s Chief Operating Officer,

Jeff Nugent, as one of the city’s most innovative and ambitiousbusiness individuals under 40 years of age.

“Jeff is a well-respected leader and innovative executive who hasearned a reputation as a leading expert in policy design and changemanagement. In his role as COO, Jeff has taken the lead on develop-ing the path for us to meet the government’s priorities of building askilled workforce to attract key investment to the province. He is thestrategic mind and driven leader who will assist in delivering the resultscrucial to the province’s success” says Gary Herman, ITA CEO.

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ITA and WorkBC recently launchedan online Apprentice Job Matchtool which will better connectapprentices looking for on-the-jobtraining they need to boost theirskills and achieve certificationin their chosen trade. The launchoccurred simultaneously at 10post-secondary institutions in BC.

Finding an employer sponsor isone of the biggest hurdles to asuccessful apprenticeship;therefore, the need to connectapprentices to local employersis greater than ever.

“The new Apprentice Job Matchtool will be a great resource forstudents like me to build con-nections in my sector and findemployment,” says TristanWinthrup, Thompson RiversUniversity Foundation programstudent. “I am excited aboutthe opportunities ahead of me,and I am looking forward to

Making connections with the Apprentice Job Match Tool

advancing my career with thehelp of an employer sponsor.”

By 2022, there are expected tobe one million job openings inBritish Columbia; therefore,

helping apprentices find employersponsors is critical to improvingapprenticeship completionrates and ensuring industryhas the skilled labour it needs

to take advantage of a growingeconomy.

“Today’s youth are our futurebuilders,” says Rob Zadra, em-ployer sponsor and co-founderof PJB Mechanical Plumbingand Heating,“Together withthe ITA and the Apprentice JobMatch tool, we can be certainthat the knowledge, skills,abilities and desires of today’sworkforce are matched with thecompanies that can provide thenext generation of skilled trades-people with the opportunityand training for personal fulfill-ment in their chosen career.”

• Watch the Job Match tooldemo videos.

• Find the Job Match tool onWorkBC's website and signup as a job seeker or add ajob posting as an employer.

I N T H E N E W S

The BC provincial government recently proclaimed November 7,2014, as the province’s inaugural Apprenticeship Recognition Day.This annual celebration will help raise awareness of the importanceof developing a highly trained and skilled workforce for key sectorsof BC’s growing economy where skilled trades are needed. Thisday was well-timed with Skilled Trades and Technology Week(November 3–9, 2014), a week that was dedicated to celebratingapprenticeship and skilled trades training in British Columbia.

Take a look at how skilled trades were celebrated during the week,including CTV’s Ann Luu’s In Your Shoes segment, where Ann Luutakes on being a Heavy Equipment Operator for the day. Also, checkout Marc Smith’s 30 Day Adventures blog post about HeritageHomes in Prince George, a company that builds state of the arthomes that are zero emission energy efficient. Eighty percent ofHeritage Homes’ work force is currently undergoing their workexperience to gain Red Seal certification.

Celebrating apprenticeship inBritish Columbia

Youth Trades Guide asks:What are you made of?Introducing the 2014 TradesGuide: an innovative recruitingtool designed to position thetrades as an exciting post-secondary option and a viableuniversity alternative for BCstudents, career counsellorsand parents. The guide offersa unique overview of opportu-nities in the skilled tradesacross BC, as well as informa-tion on how apprenticeshipworks in the province and thesteps to get started.

Are you a builder, analyzer, operator, fixer, artisan or anoutdoorist? Find your trade now.

making sure that everyone is intune with the trades landscapeto ensure the successful transi-tion of youth into the skilledtrades.

With six locations across BC, JOEY Restaurants has the goal to deliver theultimate in casual dining through the creation of bold new recipes. JOEYRestaurants is an example of a BC employer in the people developmentbusiness, utilizing the skilled trades training system to recruit, train andretain the next generation of Red Seal Certified Chefs.

In BC, it is estimated that the Tourism and Hospitality sector alonewill see 101,000 new job openings by 2020. With this growth, manycompanies in this sector are sponsoring apprentices and looking tocreate programs that support their employee’s education and training

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JOEY Restaurants: Leading the next generation ofRed Seal Certified Chefs

E M P L O Y E R P R O F I L E

in order to guarantee skilled, prepared workers to meet future labourdemands. JOEY Restaurants already has such programs in place.

“We offer an industry leading culinary apprenticeship program wherethe apprentice has the unique opportunity to participate in an exten-sive training program while attending culinary school—earning whilethey learn,” says Amy Hamdorff, the Recruiting Manager at JOEYRestaurants. “The ultimate objective of this program is to supportthe apprentice in earning their Red Seal designation.”

Chris Levesque is a talented Red Seal Certified Chef from Vancouver,BC, who got his foothold in the hospitality industry through JOEY’straining and development program. “Having the chance to completean apprenticeship with JOEY and achieve my Red Seal certificationhas been a great experience,” recounts Chris.

Chris is now dedicated to supporting and coaching others to findtheir culinary path. By taking each new apprentice under their wingand guiding them through the program, it is JOEY’s in-house RedSeal Chefs like Chris who are leading the next generation of Red SealCertified Chefs across BC.

When hiring apprentices, JOEY Restaurants works closely with theskilled trades training system, including trained apprentices andApprenticeship Advisors, whose job is to help connect apprenticeswith employers, getting them started and guiding them through BC’sapprenticeship system with as much ease as possible.

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

• Read more about the success story of Red Seal Certified Chef,Chris Levesque.

Youth Day: Employer engagement and ensuringsuccessful transitions

Y O U T H I N I T I AT I V E S

The future of BC’s developingeconomy depends heavily onthe youth of today, and ITA hasbeen working hard to ensurethat young British Columbiansare first in line for the manyopportunities ahead—a themethat resonated at the 9TH annualYouth Day conference held inVancouver in November 2014.

Bringing together career educa-tors, employers and youth, theday-long event served as a plat-form to share best practicesand discuss the benefits ofapprenticeship within the

trades. A number of differentviewpoints were presented,including short presentations fromyouth apprentices, an employerpanel of industry leaders, anupdate on ITA’s Youth Programs

and sharing of best practicesfrom career educators.

With BC on the cusp of a broadbased development boom, theseconversations are essential in

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ITA at WorkITA has been hard at work since the launch of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and releaseof the recommendations in the McDonald Report. Here are just a few of the many actionsITA has delivered on over the past seven months.

TRAINITA selects nine training providers to deliver the ConstructionCraft Worker program

In response to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry’s demand forskilled tradespeople in BC, ITA announced nine training providersqualified to deliver the Construction Craft Worker program in BC. TheConstruction Craft Worker trade was recently announced as BC’s 48thRed Seal trade, and is at the top of the list of in-demand LNG occupa-tions, with an anticipated demand of up to 11,800 Construction TradeHelpers and Labourers by 2018. Qualified training providers include:

• British Columbia • Northwest Community Institute of Technology College

• Camosun College • Okanagan College

• College of New Caledonia • Selkirk College

• Construction & Specialized • Thompson Rivers Workers Training Society University

• Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Learn more about the CCW trade and keep informed of trainingopportunities.

REFRESHITA refreshes Youth Apprenticeship Programs to help strengthentrades training for BC’s youth

With over one million job openings expected in BC within the next sixyears, it is critical that BC provides the right opportunities to youthso that they have the right skills to take advantage of these jobs. Asa result, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, ITA recentlyannounced that it will be refreshing its youth apprenticeship programsto increase the number of youth apprentices and improve continuationand completion rates. The enhanced youth programs are expected tobe implemented in 2015.

Learn more about ITA’s current Youth Programs

SUPPORT15 Apprenticeship Advisors on-the-ground

ITA has now hired a total of 15 Apprenticeship Advisors located acrossthe province to act as on-the-ground resources for apprentices andemployer sponsors. Apprenticeship Advisors are part of ITA’s increasedefforts to build knowledge and awareness of the BC ApprenticeshipSystem with the primary responsibility to provide regional support toapprentices and employer sponsors, and creating a positive impact onthe continuation and completion rates of apprenticeship. Four of the

newly hired Apprenticeship Advisors are based in the Lower Mainlandand one in Prince George.

Learn more about Apprenticeship Advisors in your area.

ADVISETourism and Hospitality Sector Advisory Group approved toadvise government

With an estimated 101,000 new job openings in the Tourism andHospitality industry by 2020, ITA continues to drive B.C.’s Skills forJobs Blueprint, responding to this need through the recent formationof a Sector Advisory Group (SAG) for this specific industry. This SAGwill be tasked with the essential role of advising government and ITAon industry-specific issues key to skills training, and is made up of 16volunteer members, each with a unique perspective and positionwithin BC’s Tourism and Hospitality industry.

Learn more about the Tourism and Hospitality SAG.

CONNECTRio Tinto Alcan and LNG Canada tour

ITA’s Board of Directors participated in two employer tours this Fallin Kitimat. A bus tour of the Rio Tinto Alcan modernization project,followed by a presentation and meeting with apprentices. A secondtour was of the LNG Canada local Community Information Centre,which included an overview presentation of a multi-dimensional modelillustrating how the proposed site would work in the Kitimat area.

ITA is looking forward to the many opportunities that the booming LNGsector will bring in Northern BC, and by working together with stake-holders, industry and employers, we hope to meet the future demandsthrough the continued implementation of An Action Plan for LNG TradesTraining, one of the four pillars outlined in ITA’s Transition Plan.

Learn more about An Action Plan for LNG Trades Training.

ITA Board of Directors and Executives in front of LNG Canada’s Community Information Centre(left to right) Andy Calitz, MJ Whitemarsh, Barj Dhahan, Lindsay Langill, Gwyn Morgan (Chair),Gary Herman (CEO), Jeff Nugent (COO), Rick Kasper, Bob Davis.

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Growing your company: Tips for the orientation andretention of women in trades

W I T T I N I T I AT I V E S

In the last edition of Trades Talk,we provided tips for recruitingand hiring women in trades asoutlined in Leveling the Field: ABest Practices Guide to Employ-ing Women in the Trades. Thisguide is the first of its kind inBC, and covers recruitment andhiring, orientation, developinga safe and welcoming workplace,and retention.

Recruiting and hiring womenin trades is one thing, properlyintegrating them is equally asimportant, setting the toneand affecting motivation rightfrom the start. In fact, a goodorientation is critical to helping

all new hires—not just women—succeed in a job. Here are someinsights and tips from the Best Practices Guide when it comes to theorientation and retention of new tradespeople:

Building partnerships in support of AboriginalPeoples in the trades

A B O R I G I N A L I N I T I AT I V E S

• Offer a comprehensive orientation. Offer all new employees aneffective orientation that includes a proper introduction to thepeople they will be working with, a physical tour of the worksite,and information about your expectations regarding the employee’snew role.

• Develop workplace respect policies. Inform workers of the policystatement in place to address bullying and harassment, and imple-ment procedures for dealing with such incidents.

• Link new hires to trainers. Provide a certified tradesperson tosupervise all apprentices and answer any questions they mighthave to help new hires get up and running quickly.

• Offer equipment in a variety of sizes. Offer work and safetyequipment in a variety of sizes, and provide equipment madespecifically for women if available.

These tips are a great resource to ensure that your business retainsthe most qualified people for the job. Find more tips and insightsin the full Best Practices Guide.

Read how Lacey Construction Ltd. is addressing best practices inorientation and retention by providing all new hires with a thoroughorientation, and partnering them with an experienced workplacesupervisor for on-the-job training.

Including tours of newtraining sites and networkingtime, the conference wasable to provide attendeeswith information on upcom-ing industry opportunitiesand feedback directly fromapprentices. Various paneldiscussions featured expertsand questions on key topicssuch as Aboriginal-UnionPartnerships, LNG, and

Aboriginal workers. The event also held an “Aboriginal Awareness”session for labour, training site tours, and a “Speed Meeting”session to ensure that all Aboriginal agencies met each andevery union and industry representative to explore partnershipopportunities.

Find out more about Aboriginal Initiatives.

With liquefied natural gas(LNG) and other large capitalprojects now even closer toimplementation, there is a pushfor organizations to developpractical models and bestpractices to establish strongerworking relationships to sup-port Aboriginal Peoples in thetrades—and this is what the2014 Partners in TradesConference was all about.

Hosted by the Industry Training Authority, UA Local 170, the FirstNations Human Resources Labour Council and industry sponsors,this year’s hands-on and practical conference brought togetherAboriginal agencies, building trade unions, and industry with thespecific focus of building employment and training partnerships toprepare the Aboriginal workforce for the construction and operationof major projects.

EmployersponsorrecognitionCertificates of Recognitionare presented to employerswho make a difference inBC by sponsoring appren-tices, helping to guaranteeskilled, prepared workersto meet labour demands.

Take a look at some of the employer sponsorswho are making a differ-ence in the communitythrough their first classapprenticeship systems.

You too can show offbeing an employer sponsorby displaying the ProudEmployer icon at youroffice or on your website.Order a decal or downloadthe web version.

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?Question of the QuarterITA’s Trades Talk poses a question to readers each quarter, andpublishes responses in subsequent issues of Trades Talk. TheQuestion of the Quarter will also be posted on the ITA Facebook pageand responses are also welcomed there.

This quarter, we want to know: How has the new online Apprentice Job Match tool helped you makeconnections?

Email your answers and comments to tradestalk@itabc.ca

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HAVE YOUR SAY

Trades Talk strives to reporton the issues and challengesthat matter to you. We wantto hear your solutions, bestpractices and success stories.

We would also appreciateyour feedback on Trades Talkand any suggestions you have.

Email your comments to

tradestalk@itabc.ca.Follow uson Twitter

Program UpdatesITA recently issued these Official Program Standards Notifications(OPSNs) covering BC trades training. Changes specified in theseOPSNs should be read in conjunction with the relevant program profilefor a complete set of standards for the particular program.

Changes were made to the following programs:

• Motorcycle Mechanic (Motorcycle & Power Equipment Technician): Launch of ITA Level Examinations.

• Motorcycle Mechanic (Motorcycle & Power Equipment Technician): Amendment to launch of ITA Level Examinations.

• Cabinetmaker (Joiner) - Levels 1, 2, 3;Floor Covering Installer - Levels 1, 2:Revised launch schedules for Standard Level Exams.

Take a listen to Gary Herman, ITA CEO, as he discusses the futureof skilled trades, and how ITA is making connections betweenindustry, employers and apprentices to ensure that BC has theright skills, in the right place, at the right time.

CLICK HERE to check out the ITA at Work: YouTube playlist.

ITA at Work: YouTube playlist

ITA CEO Gary Herman presents John Eales, OperationsManager at Entrec in Dawson Creek, with a Certificateof Recognition on October 19, 2014.

Making connections: Building a skilled BC from /1

addition to ITA’s toolbox, connecting apprentices looking for on-the-job training with employer sponsors. ITA has also developed aninnovative recruiting tool, the 2014 Trades Guide. It was designed toshow that trades are an exciting post-secondary option and a viablealternative to university, helping to connect youth to careers in thetrades.

Increased collaboration and coordination within the trades communityhas been a main priority for ITA, with the goal of building a seamless,outcome-oriented system. Through the placement of five additionalApprenticeship Advisors in communities across BC, for a total of 15Advisors, local apprentices and employer sponsors now have on-the-ground support they both need to connect and succeed.

Our strong internal team is another crucial component of the ITAframework, and Jeff Nugent, the Chief Operating Officer of ITA, hasbeen an integral part of our continued success. Jeff is a driven leaderwho was one of recipients of Business in Vancouver’s prestigiousForty Under 40 award. He has taken the lead in building ITA’s strongconnection to the trades community by developing a path for us tomeet the government’s priorities of building a skilled workforce.

Through our continued work together, and the numerous connec-tions we have made and continue to make, it is our hope that thefuture demands of BC’s economy will be met with the right skills,at the right place, at the right time.

Gary Herman, Chief Executive Officer