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APPRENTICESHIP-YOU’RE HIRED

Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Program gives students a head start The Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) Program, overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC), is a high school program that encourages students to consider the opportunities available in the skilled trades.

“It’s an exploratory program,” says SYA manager Paul Blankestijn. “We don’t push students toward one particular trade while they’re still in high school. This is their chance to do some research and discover what trades are available to them.”

SYA is delivered in more than 300 schools across the province. Currently, more than 3,000 students are enrolled.

SATCC staff members deliver presentations on apprenticeship, the skilled trades and SYA in classrooms across the province. They also attend career fairs, parent nights and try-a-trade events to promote the program.

While these staff members are tireless advocates for the skilled trades, the success of the program relies heavily on the support and engagement of educators in Saskatchewan high schools. These coordinators are referred to by SATCC staff as SYA Champions. Often, SYA Champions are Practical and Applied Arts teachers, Career and Work Exploration teachers or guidance counsellors.

They help students complete the challenges associated with SYA. SYA is made up of three levels, with four chal-

More than 3,000 high school students across the province are currently enrolled in the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship program. The program encourages students to explore a variety of skilled trades careers. S AT C C

lenges in each level.

“We call them challenges – they’re really activities that help students learn more about the skilled trades,” Blankestijn says. “By the time they leave high school, we want students to be well aware of a wide variety of skilled trades careers. By completing SYA, they’ll come away with a good idea of whether or not an apprenticeship is something they want to pursue.”

Examples of SYA challenges include interviewing a journeyperson, attending a career fair, researching and writing a report on a designated trade, and completing the Young Worker Readiness Certificate.

High school graduates who pursue a career in the skilled trades through an apprenticeship within five years of completing SYA receive significant benefits: their apprenticeship registration fee and Level 1 technical training tuition are waived; they also receive 300 trade time hours.

SYA graduates may also have the opportunity to be nominated for an SYA Industry Scholarship. Scholarships, valued at $1,000 each, are awarded in the spring during graduation season. Every year, SYA Champions are invited to nominate at least one graduating student who has completed SYA for the scholarship.

Champions are encouraged to nominate students who plan to pursue a career in the skilled trades because the scholarship program is unique. In order to redeem the scholarship for $1,000, students must demonstrate they’re actively pursuing a career in the skilled trades within two years of graduation – either by registering as an apprentice and successfully completing Level 1 training, or by completing a pre-employment program.

The SYA Industry Scholarship program is funded by industry sponsors and the Government of Saskatchewan. For the last few years, 100 scholarships have been

issued annually, “The SYA Industry Scholarship is one more benefit of the SYA program. Apprenticeship isn’t a cost-prohibitive pathway. In fact, it’s one of the most affordable postsecondary options available, since apprentices earn a wage while apprenticing in their trade. Still, an extra financial incentive never hurts,” Blankestijn says.

Apprentices and employers agree that SYA is an effective program. According to the SATCC’s 2017 apprentice and employer satisfaction surveys, more than 90 per cent of apprentices who are also SYA graduates agreed the pro-

gram’s challenges were useful in preparing them to become apprentices and more than 75 per cent agreed the program was a significant influence on their decision to apprentice.

Similarly, among employers who were aware that some of their employees are also SYA graduates, virtually all of them agreed they perform as well or better than other employees – nearly 70 per cent agreed they perform at the same skill level as other employees, while more than 30 per cent agreed they actually perform better.

SYA program staff work to engage schools that have not previously been involved in the program. They’re growing the program by travelling to schools in northern and rural areas to meet with educators and present to students.

“I’m a journeyperson carpenter myself,” Blankestijn says. “I know what a career in the skilled trades entails. I loved my job and I loved mentoring apprentices. Today, I give back by telling students what a career in the skilled trades can mean for them: an opportunity to work with their hands; earn a good wage; and feel proud of what they’ve accomplished at the end of the day.”

For more information about SYA, visit saskapprenticeship. ca/youth_apprentices or call 306-787-2368.

THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN APPRENTICESHIP & TRADE CERTIFICATION COMMISSION FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.

Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiatives program creates career opportunities Launched in 2002, the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiatives (AAI) program, administered and overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC), has been a helping hand to a number of First Nation Bands and instrumental in building partnerships to deliver apprenticeship training and pre-employment trades training within, or nearby, First Nations communities.

One such program took place in spring 2018 at the Keeseekoose First Nation, north of Kamsack. Kevin Musqua, Keeseekoose First Nation Band Councilor; Elaine Severight, Labour Force Development Coordinator; and Bryan Langan, Pre-Employment Support with the Yorkton Tribal Council were the boots on the ground to bring the key partners together with the AAI funding they received.

Musqua says, “We applied to Saskatchewan Apprenticeship’s AAI Program for funding, to help us partner with the Yorkton Tribal Council (YTC), Labour Force Development and YTC Pre-Employment Support Programs, the Keeseekoose Chief’s Education

School, Parkland College, and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) Joint Training Committee (JTC) to deliver Level 1 carpentry training to eight young people from the Keeseekoose First Nation.”

“Our goal with this project was to bring key players together to help youth graduating, or recently graduated, to pursue a career in the carpentry trade,” says Severight.

“We know that it is important to help youth who like working with their hands and solving problems to make skilled trades career decisions early in their life. We had already worked with these youths on basic home maintenance skills, so this AAI project was the next logical step.”

Albert Laliberte, the SIIT Regional Coordinator, helped to support the community with the initial AAI proposal, and Shelley Macnab and Sylvia Hamilton of the SIIT JTC worked with all the partners to complete the apprentices’ contracts for apprenticeship.

The JTC and Regional Coordinator visited the program in the community three times throughout the nine-week

program and stayed in touch on a daily or weekly basis.

“The entire class worked hard to complete the theoretical and practical portions of the program,” Laliberte says. “The atmosphere was one of camaraderie as everyone was working towards the same goal. The program was a success. Seldom can SIIT participate in level training in the community without the help from the SATCC AAI program.

Working with the students and all these team players was very positive and helped build relationships. Being a carpenter myself, and seeing community success in level training, I’m proud knowing First Nation community clients have the opportunity with level training.”

What impact has this project had on the young apprentices?

“I know these young men are so grateful to have received apprenticeship training at home and have the opportunity to build a career in the skilled trades,” says Musqua.

“On behalf of the Keeseekoose Chief and Council, I would like to thank Saskatchewan Apprenticeship, the Yorkton Tribal Council and SIIT for

The Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiatives program is helping First Nation Bands deliver apprenticeship and pre-employment trades training to members of their communities. Pictured here, members of Keeseekoose First Nation celebrate as eight young people from their community completed Level 1 carpentry training. SAT CC

providing this training to our First Nation.”

Now that the youth have completed their Level 1 carpentry apprenticeship training, the partners have organized the work experience component within the Keeseekoose First Nation to ensure the apprentices can acquire the trade time hours to move to Level 2. Six are working on local projects while two have found employment elsewhere in the construction sector.

Approximately six AAI projects are funded each year.

SATCC’s Chief Operating Officer, Loreena Spilsted, outlines the process to select winning AAI proposals.

“Proposals are reviewed by a selection committee. Besides myself, the selection commit-

tee includes other Indigenous partners, training institutes and industry representatives – everyone who has a vested interest in Indigenous apprenticeship.”

Projects are weighted against a set of criteria, including: how well they meet the needs of a rural location; whether or not they are situated on reserve; the number of people involved in the training plan; the trades training involved; and whether or not they include innovative concepts to spread awareness of the skilled trades. The Committee also considers whether or not the organization(s) applying for funding have received funding previously; and the need to fund projects located across the province.

“In the end, the SATCC aims

to fund projects that result in an increased awareness of the skilled trades, enhanced skills and employment,” Spilsted says. “Many of the supported projects also foster community growth and development.”

Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiatives proposals are currently being accepted for 2019, and the deadline to apply is May 31, 2019. For more information, visit saskapprenticeship.ca/workers/ aboriginal-apprenticeship/ or call 306-787-2439.

T H I S S T O RY WA S P R OV I D E D BY T H E SASKATCHEWAN APPRENTICESHIP & TRADE CERTIFICATION COMMISSION FOR AWARENESS PURPOSES.

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APPRENTICESHIP-YOU’RE HIRED These competitors have all the right skills

BY RYAN HALL

There are many different ways to succeed in the world. But no matter which way you choose, having the right skills, and the confidence to use them, is critical. For people just starting out, it can be hard to find the training and experience they need to reach their full potential. That’s where events like the Skills Canada Saskatchewan Competition come in.

For 21 years, the event has provided an opportunity for young people to showcase their talents.

The Skills Canada Saskatchewan Competition began as a way to provide recognition for accomplishments in the skilled trades and technologies. For years, such skills had been overlooked by school boards, faculties and governments which meant talented individuals were going unnoticed. As a result, many of them were struggling to find steady employment and begin their careers. “In order for that to

change they needed a venue where they could promote themselves,” says Colin Phippard, executive director of Skills Canada Saskatchewan.

“That’s where the competition comes in.”

Each year, more than 200 students from across the province gather to compete in a variety of categories ranging from construction and engineering to transportation, information, and employment skills. The goal is to showcase students’ talents for companies and industries in the province. Of course, this means introducing participants to industry leaders and potential employers, as a way to build relationships. Since many leading Saskatchewan companies have representatives on hand, this makes the event a great way to get to know the future workforce of the province.

The competition is about much more than just finding a job. There is also a focus on encouraging competitors to

think about their future and consider further coursework and apprenticeship. “Especially for high school students, we want to inspire them to choose an area of specialization and pursue it to their fullest potential,” says Phippard.

Participants are divided into two categories of competition: Secondary (high school students) and Post-Secondary (Saskatchewan Polytechnic students, apprentices, and other training facility students). At the Secondary level, each high school is allowed a single competitor per category, meaning they will often hold a smaller regional or school-wide challenge first.

In select cases, a second competitor from a high school may be allowed if Skills Saskatchewan indicates there will be additional open spots.

Competitors at the PostSecondary level are allowed to register online, with apprentices and special training center students indicating which area they wish to com-

Federal government introduces apprenticeship grant for women

BY ELIZABETH IRELAND

YOU’RE HIRED

This December, the Government of Canada launched a new Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (AIG-W) to further support women to enter, progress and complete their training in Red Seal trades that are traditionally male-dominated.

The AIG-W provides $3,000 per year/level, up to a maximum amount of $6,000, to female registered apprentices who have successfully completed their first or second year/level of a Red Seal trades apprenticeship program.

The AIG-W applies to skilled trades where women are underrepresented.

In combination with the existing Apprenticeship Completion Grant valued at $2,000, the AIGW could translate into combined grant support of up to $8,000 over the course of training.

Josh Bueckert is a senior media relations spokesperson with Employment and Social Development Canada. “Canada’s future prosperity depends on every individual having the skills, training and experience they need to get good quality jobs and succeed in a changing economy. The skilled trades are in-demand, offer exciting careers and pay well. People in skilled trades represent approximately one in five employed Canadians,” said Bueckert.

“Women account for nine per cent of apprentices in Red Seal

trades, and only four per cent when ‘traditional’ trades (hairstylist, cook and baker) are removed. Most Red Seal trades where women are underrepresented are typically higher-paying. The Government of Canada is playing a leadership role by introducing new investments to encourage and support women to enter and succeed in the trades,” he added.

Loreena Spilsted found success in the trades as a journeyperson industrial electrician.

“Although I grew up with my father working in the mining industry, my mother was a teacher and wanted me to complete a university degree. After one year of university courses in nursing, I switched over to apprenticing as an industrial electrician. My mother was not happy with my choice until she realized I came out of the gates making money. As is typical in the Red Seal trades, I had no student debt because I worked in my trade throughout my apprenticeship,” said Spilsted.

Based out of Regina, Spilsted is now Chief Operating Officer of the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) and she has experienced a diverse and challenging career.

Spilsted has worked in her current COO role for fives years and has been with the SATCC since 2002.

The SATCC actively supports women entering the skilled trades in Saskatchewan through programs including the Wendy

Davis Memorial Scholarship. The SATCC awards this scholarship each year to the female, in a traditionally male-dominated trade, who achieves the highest mark on her journeyperson exam.

“The traditionally male trades where we now see the most females are carpenter, construction electrician, welder and scaffolder. Women appreciate the opportunity to work with their hands and to be creative. Individuals often gravitate to what they are exposed to and what they know. If a female grew up with a father who owned an automotive service shop, a career as an automotive service technician might be a natural fit,” said Spilsted.

According to the SATCC, as of June 30, 2018, there are 7,584 apprentices registered in the province with 782 of those (approximately 10 per cent) female and 383 of those (approximately five per cent) female and working in a predominately male trade.

“The skilled trades offer terrific options for women in Saskatchewan, including income earning potential, low to no student debt, career mobility and many diverse opportunities. Apprentices are highly valued by employers which leads to flexibility,” says Spilsted.

To learn more about the AIG-W program, visit canada.ca/apprenticeship-grants. To request an application, call 1-866-742-3644 or TTY: 1-866-909-9757 or visit a Service Canada Centre.

The 2019 Skills Canada Saskatchewan Competition takes place Friday, April 12. Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon will host most of the Secondary level events while the Post-Secondary competition will take place at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Main Campus. Offsite events will also take place at a variety of locations in Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw. SKIL LS CANADA SASKAT CH EWA N

pete in. Alternatively, anyone registered through one of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses can also sign up online, but those finalists are selected by the instructors at their regional campus. Once again, usually only a single entrant from each school is allowed per category, and this can mean an internal competition to decide who will represent them at the provincial level. However, if there is a program that is only offered at a single campus, that school gets to determine how many entrants will be allowed.

A Provincial Gold Medal winner will be awarded in each category, with most champions being invited to make up “Team Saskatchewan” at the Skills Canada National Competition in late May. This larger event features

winners from each province and territory in the country, who operate under their own independent Skills Organizations. “This year we plan to take around 50 Saskatchewan team members to nationals, where they will represent the province in over 45 different trades and technology areas,” says Phippard.

However, even that isn’t the final stop for some competitors. National Gold Medal winners will qualify to represent Team Canada at the Worlds Skills Competition to be held next year in Russia. This international event occurs every two years and gives team members a chance to compete against the best in the world and showcase their skills to a global audience.

More importantly, it also allows them see the newest

tools, trends, and skills demonstrated at the highest level, while also building worldwide connections.

This year, the Skills Canada Saskatchewan Competition will be held on Friday, April 12.

Most Secondary level events will take place at Mount Royal Collegiate in Saskatoon, while the Post-Secondary competition will be at the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Saskatoon Main Campus. Off-site events will also be held at SIIT Saskatoon, the UA Local 179 Saskatoon Training Centre, the Sheet Metal Workers Local 296 Saskatoon Training Centre, as well as at the Moose Jaw and Regina Saskatchewan Polytechnic campuses.

For more information on Skills Canada Saskatchewan and the competition, visit www.skillscanadasask.com.

THE POLYTECHNIC ADVANTAGE:

You’ll learn by doing.

Does a career in the trades look good to you?

Get a head start on journeyperson certification through Youth Apprenticeship.

1-877-363-0536 saskapprenticeship.ca

HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES let you apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world situations. Through our campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Polytechnic provides the in-school portion of apprenticeship training for over 20 trades. Graduates of a number of our certificate programs may be eligible to apply trade time and academic credit towards an apprenticeship program.

Learn more at saskpolytech.ca saskpolytech