The CAMROSE BOOSTER, April 27, 2021 – Page 12
RAP provides students with valuable hands-on experience By Lori Larsen
ing support for Women Central High SedgeBuilding Futures; and sevwick Public School Grade eral other initiatives. 11 student Owen Djos is “The Task Force’s delighted to be able to gain recommendations on some hands-on experistrengthening and expandence in plumbing as part ing apprenticeship educaof the Alberta Registered tion and skills development Apprenticeship Program were carefully reviewed. (RAP). Now, we are making RAP is an apprenticechanges to better meet the ship program specifically needs of students and the for high school students, skilled trades industry,” grades 10 to 12, who have commented Lovely. identified their desire to “Through the propursue a specific career in posed changes in Bill 67, trades, and are ready to the Skilled Trades and begin learning and practicApprenticeship Educaing it while still attending tion Act, we will modernhigh school. ize apprenticeship educaRAP students are both tion and the governance of full-time students and regskilled trades professions. istered apprentices, who These changes will help us divide their time between ensure that Alberta’s workan approved work site and force is skilled, competitive their high school studies. and equipped to deal with They take regular challenges today and into high school courses such the future.” as English Language Arts, In 2019, the governSocial Studies, Science ment committed to expandand Math in order to earn ing the apprenticeship their Alberta High School model to other careers with Diploma or Certificate of emerging demand, and Achievement. with Bill 67. “We are doing For Djos, his interest just that. The proposed in working in the trades, changes will allow for the specifically plumbing and apprenticeship education heating, was peaked durmodel to be applied to other ing a school announcement professions.” made by the Battle River The changes compleSchool Division’s career ment the goals of the counsellor. Submitted photo Alberta 2030: Building “She had mentioned Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) participant Grade 11 Sedgewick Public School Skills for Jobs strategy, to the chance as apprentice- student Owen Djos works on the site of the Chester Ronning School build as part of his ensure that every student ship for plumbing or heat- work experience in the plumbing and heating trades. has the skills and knowling and I wanted to jump “I think getting to be program such a success for 41,500 workers expected to edge they need to enjoy on it as fast as I could,” said an apprentice at my age students,” said Roe. fulfilling lives and careers, retire. Djos. “I like to work with is very useful, if I were to Camrose MLA Jackie Alberta has the larg- and to build a globally commy hands and feel producstick to it, because I would Lovely commented on the est working-age population petitive workforce. tive, and the apprentice“Alberta’s governnot be weighed down by continual support of the and the lowest median age ship during school gave me ment recognizes the value among all the provinces. Alberta government for a realistic look at what my student loans. The RAP apprenticeship programs. However, as of Decem- of hands-on learning for career could look like after program also helped me “Apprenticeship education ber 2020, Alberta’s youth both students and employgain other useful tools school.” has proven to unemployment rate was 25 ers, and knows the merCurrently, Djos is strongly support per cent. “We need to make it of skilled trades and working with Cremac he apprenticeship during student learn- sure that the young people apprenticeship education,” Metal Products Ltd. ing and success, in Alberta know the value said Lovely. “The Skilled school gave me a realistic look on the building site and we believe of a skilled trades career Trades and Apprenticeship at what my career could look like of the new Chesthis model can and the success it can pro- Education Act is another ter Ronning School after school,” said Owen Djos, RAP be used beyond vide. That is why Alberta’s step to support the future in Camrose, and is participant and Sedgewick Public the designated government is taking steps of these workers and their happy to be gaining to support skilled trades industries.” trades.” School Grade 11 student. such valuable handsStudents interested in and expand apprenticeship Jobs in trade on experience. taking advantage of the education. R ecog nizing Time spent at The government is RAP program are advised school finishing studies like WHMIS training and the important role appren- already supporting skilled to contact high school ticeship programs, such other essential courses for and on the worksite are as RAP, play in education, trades and apprenticeship RAP coordinators, visit an determined by both the stu- working at the jobsite.” Apprenticeship and IndusBattle River School the Alberta Government education, including credent, school and employer ating the Alberta Trades try Training office, or call continues to evaluate and and are flexible in order to Division (BRSD) has been Hall of Fame; increasing the toll free information accommodate the student’s very focused on supporting reimagine Alberta’s skilled funding to CAREERS: The line at 1-800-248-4823 for success at both school and students to be successful trades and apprenticeship Next Generation, improv- more information. in the apprenticeship. in the RAP program. The system through the Skills “I can achieve a total school division promotes for Jobs Task Force which of 55 credits in a RAP pro- involvement in the trades was appointed in the fall of 2019. gram while I am in high through this program. “In the coming years, school. I gain one credit for BRSD RAP Program skilled trades workers in every 125 hours, roughly.” Coordinator Clayton Roe Once the RAP appren- inspects potential work- Alberta will be in higher tice (student) completes sites to ensure they meet demand than ever before high school, the RAP safety standards for stu- as we continue to see a shortage in these crucial apprenticeship ceases, and dents, then helps connect areas of our workforce,” the apprentice is then autostudents with potential said Camrose MLA Jackie matically registered as a regular apprentice. The employers. Roe also checks Lovely. on behalf of the credit earned while in RAP in with students and Alberta government. According to Buildis applied to his or her employers regularly to see apprenticeship through the how things are going, and Force Canada projections, Lori Larsen, Camrose Booster helps students track their Alberta’s construction and apprenticeship program. Pictured left to right are Battle River School Division maintenance industry will District representative for off campus education Clayton “I can work after the hours. “We are very thankful need to hire almost 65,000 Roe, Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely, RAP student Owen Djos school year is over and still earn credits to my diploma, to the employers and orga- workers over the next and Careers Next Generation representative Dave Brown. which takes some stress off nizations that have been decade to meet growth Photo was taken outside the perimeter of Chester Ronning supportive in making this and replace an estimated School construction zone. of things,” remarked Djos.
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