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APPRENTICESHIP-YOU’RE HIRED SATCC supports Tiny House projects through Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiatives
Seven students from Chief Gabriel Cote Education Centre built a 350-square-foot house for the Cote First Nation last year. The project, a partnership between Parkland College, Yorkton Tribal Council and Cote First Nation, received funding from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) through the Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiatives (IAI) program. The SATCC invests approximately $400,000 annually in IAI projects to help recruit Indigenous people into apprenticeship and the skilled trades. Projects include apprenticeship training and pre-employment trades training that is delivered within or nearby First Nation communities. To make the house at Cote First Nation more affordable for its future owner, the students installed energy efficient or “green” appliances and solar panels. Many of the supplies and tools were donated by local businesses. Yorkton Home Hardware outfitted students with tools and safety gear and Living Skies Solar donated the cost of installing the solar panels. The Tiny House was awarded
This ‘tiny house’ was constructed by seven students from Chief Gabriel Cote Education Centre, through a partnership between Parkland College, Yorkton Tribal Council and Cote First Nation. The project gave students the opportunity to build a tiny house from the ground up, gaining hands-on knowledge and experience with several different trades. Funding was provided by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Trade and Certification Commission. PA R K L A N D C O L L E G E
to Elder Gloria Pelley at the program wrap-up ceremony in June. This is the first time she has had her own house on reserve. “The feeling is just so incredible,” Elder Gloria Pelley said. “I can’t believe I’m the owner of this home, my first ever home. And I’m grateful to be
back in my community where I can contribute.” Chief George Cote expressed his appreciation for the new home and the opportunity for students to complete the build. “A lack of housing is a big concern for Cote First Nation,” he said. “There are too few houses for all of the
Students find their fit with Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship The Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) program, overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC), exposes students to opportunities in the skilled trades through research and hands-on learning. The program is delivered in more than 300 high schools across Saskatchewan. Students complete 12 activities, including interviewing a journeyperson; researching a designated trade; and completing at least one day of onthe-job work experience. Students who complete the program and register as apprentices within five years of graduation receive 300 trade time hours. As well, their apprenticeship registration fee and their Level 1 technical training tuition are waived. Nishell Selinger, 22, is a Level Four Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) apprentice working for Industrial Machine and Manufacturing in Saskatoon. She’s also an SYA graduate. She knew she didn’t want to work in an office at an early age. “I knew I wasn’t suited for a desk job really early in high school,” she said. At her current workplace she’s always on her feet, moving around. As soon as she had the opportunity to gain on-the-job work experience through SYA, she was hooked. “I got there and I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to do this every day. I want to be in a shop. I want to get my hands on as much as possible.’”
Apprentices and employers agree SYA is an effective program. According to the SATCC’s 2019 apprentice and employer satisfaction surveys, 90 per cent of apprentices who are also SYA graduates agreed the program’s challenges were useful in preparing them to become apprentices and 81 per cent agreed the program was a significant influence on their decision to apprentice. While the SYA program gives students a chance to learn more about the trades, it doesn’t require them to choose a trade while they’re still in high school. “The SYA program is meant to be exploratory,” SATCC SYA Manager Paul Blankestijn said. “It gives them a chance to figure out which trades are designated in Saskatchewan, what an apprenticeship looks like, and whether or not the trades might be a good fit for them. It’s really an introduction to the trades.” Ricky Goertzen is a Journeyperson Truck and Transport Mechanic. He works for National Tank Services in Saskatoon and he, too, completed the SYA program. Looking back on his childhood, he’s not surprised he ended up a mechanic. “I think my parents knew I was going to be a mechanic before I did,” Goertzen said. “I always was fascinated (with) taking stuff apart. I was always taking apart little bicycles and taking apart the cranks and the bearings and putting big wheels on.”
band members and many are forced to live away from Cote, often in urban areas or with family members. The band council hopes the new house will start to change that. The houses are one step towards meeting our needs. The project has indeed helped to meet community needs and
has built a sense of pride and accomplishment within the community as a whole!” Students kicked off the program learning math, employability and communication skills. They completed several courses, including safety training and power tool safety, and worked on other small pro-
jects in the shop to help prepare them for the home build. During the actual build, they participated in all aspects of its construction. “We most definitely had a crew of hard-working, dedicated students,” Parkland College Corporate and Internal Engagement Coordinator Brendan Wagner said. “The Tiny House project proved to be very successful. It allowed students the opportunity to build a tiny house from the ground up and has allowed participants to gain hands-on knowledge and experience with several different trades. One student stated he learned about ‘every little system that goes into building a house.’ Several students now have plans to pursue further trades programming.” The SATCC’s IAI program has funded another tiny house project announced February 3, 2020. The new project at Ocean Man First Nation will see students build a tiny house for the community. Again, Parkland College and Yorkton Tribal Council partnered on the project, along with Ocean Man First Nation. This story was provided by SATCC for promotional purposes.
Lester Thiessen, Agricultural Equipment Technician, pursues his passion
After graduating from the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship program, Nishell Selinger is now a Level Four Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) apprentice working for Industrial Machine and Manufacturing in Saskatoon. SATCC
Now 30, Goertzen described completing his apprenticeship and achieving journeyperson certification in 2015 as “one of the best accomplishments in (his) life.” The SYA program has experienced significant growth over the last year. As of June 30, 2020, more than 4,000 students were registered in the program, an increase of 26 per cent over 2018-19. “Our SYA team is proud of the growth we’ve accomplished – especially in such a challenging year,” said Blankestijn. “While COVID-19 has required us to promote the program virtually, we continue to connect with teachers, students and parents.” For more information about SYA, visit saskapprenticeship. ca/sask-youth-apprenticeship or call the Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator at 306-7872368. This story was provided by the SATCC for promotional purposes.
Lester Thiessen is busy. He’s a skilled Red Seal Agricultural Equipment Technician (AET), a handy man at home, a husband and a father of three young children. He is a leader in his church and also loves watching and playing sports. Thiessen has received two scholarships for his achievements in the skilled trades: the inaugural Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Scholarship for Journeypersons with Disabilities at the 2019 Apprenticeship Awards and the Young’s Equipment Inc./ Western Equipment Dealers Association Scholarship at the 2018 Apprenticeship Awards. Thiessen and his identical twin brother were raised on a mixed farm in Maryfield, Saskatchewan. Both were born hard of hearing, and appreciated the support they received growing up. “I am grateful to our parents, teachers and education assistants who supported us throughout our education,” he said. “We were the first deaf students to graduate from our school. We kept the teachers on their toes.” Thiessen didn’t pursue a career as an AET right after graduation. While he enjoyed helping his dad and grandpa fix machinery as a young boy, he chose to attend Bible school, followed by a year at the University of Winnipeg. However, neither of those options felt like the right fit for him. It wasn’t until he recalled
Lester Thiessen has found his calling through the Saskatchewan apprenticeship program. He is a skilled Red Seal Agricultural Equipment Technician at Mazergroup, the New Holland dealership in Moosomin. SAT CC
the pleasure he felt working on machinery with his family, and all the problem solving that was involved, that he decided to find a job and register as an AET apprentice. Right away, he knew he had found his calling. “I started my apprenticeship with Mazergroup, a New Holland dealership in Moosomin, and I got my Red Seal AET Journeyperson with them in 2019,” Thiessen said. “What I really like about the trade is that every day is so different. There are many different types of equipment I can work on such as sprayers, combines, tractors, skid steers, balers, and swathers. I really enjoy problem solving why something is not working. I get satisfaction from fixing it.” Thiessen understands how important it is to have access to inclusive, welcoming work
environments that support and encourage people from underrepresented groups, including people with disabilities. “Having a disability is such a small part of who I am,” said Thiessen. “I don’t think of myself that way. What surprises me is that the biggest challenge isn’t my hearing. It is encountering people who don’t understand my abilities and make assumptions about me. “In a job interview one time the person realized I was hard of hearing and he got upset, made condescending comments, and left the interview.” Thiessen notes that once people notice how hard he works and what he achieves, they warm up to him. He is grateful for the supportive environment he has with Mazergroup. Continues on next page
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APPRENTICESHIP-YOU’RE HIRED Building a firm foundation for women in trades BY WENDY LIVINGSTONE The benefits of working in skilled trades are wide-ranging and abundant, but these occupations are not often considered by females in the workforce. “I’ve had so many amazing opportunities to travel, I’ve worked on some amazing projects, and I’ve worked with some really great people,” said Shylah Nokusis, project coordinator with the Office to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA)–Saskatchewan, referring to her experience in a skilled trade. “And what a lot of women don’t know is the amount of money you can make. Instead of working three jobs to scrape by, how about working one?”
Shylah Nokusis is project coordinator of the Office to Advance Women Apprentices. S A R A H M C C AT E E
Nokusis, who is a Red Seal journeyperson carpenter, a second-year scaffolder and second-year ironworker, says that completing an apprenticeship is similar to getting a university degree but, with the
trades, you’re working on the job and earning money as you learn your skills. Her Red Seal designation allows her to work in other provinces without having to take further training or write more exams. In her role with the OAWA, Nokusis supports women who wish to work in the trades by connecting apprentices to employers, providing mentoring and career counselling, helping with resume development, locating funding options, providing networking opportunities and delivering journeyperson preparation workshops to prepare tradeswomen for writing their Red Seal exams. She also assists employers who are considering hiring skilled tradeswomen. She says that, for employers, there are many benefits of hiring tradeswomen. “It gives them a competitive advantage over other companies by enhancing their reputation and it creates a more productive and friendly working environment.” To help employers connect with the ideal prospective employees, the OAWA maintains a database of skilled women in various trades and at various levels of apprenticeship. “For example,” said Nokusis, “an employer anywhere in the province can give us a call before posting a ‘help wanted’ ad if they are starting a job or they are just looking to hire tradeswomen. All they have to do is call us and say, ‘I need two carpenters in the Estevan area, preferably first, second years, who can travel for work,’ and I
go into my database, pull up all the women with the right qualifications and forward their resumes to the employers—all for free. Our services are accessible to all employers, whether they are union or non-union, big or small.” The organization also conducts labour market research with Saskatchewan’s construction industry, helping to ensure that workers are available when and where needed. Established in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2009, the OAWA enhances entry, advancement and completion outcomes for women in the apprenticeable skilled construction trades. The number of women in the skilled trades in that province increased from four per cent to 13 per cent after the office was opened. Following the success of that initial project, the federal government—in collaboration with the Canadian Building Trades Unions—has taken on a threeyear initiative that includes the establishment of three more offices across the country: one in each of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia. The organization opened its doors in Saskatchewan in May 2019. According to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, as of June 2020, 11 per cent of the province’s apprentices were female; five per cent of those apprentices were registered in predominately male trades. It is too early to know whether there has been an increase in the number of women
on the job, but the office’s database already includes a list of approximately 100 skilled tradeswomen. Some are at various levels of apprenticeship; some have their journeyperson status and are looking for employment; others are successful career women who wish to provide mentorship for up-andcoming women tradeswomen. She believes that more companies are realizing the value of diversity and inclusion in the construction industry. “There are more and more programs out there to support this and make opportunities for under-represented labour pools.” She added: “It’s important that programs and initiatives like ours are here to offer wrap-around supports to women in all levels of apprenticeship, from direct entry to Red Seal tradeswomen. Without it, we would not have the retention of women in the skilled trades. “We are here to help,” said Nokusis. “As a tradeswoman myself, I think about how much easier my apprenticeship would have been to have someone there assisting me when looking for employment, searching for funding options and where to apply for bursaries or scholarships, assistance in obtaining safety tickets, or connecting me with another tradeswoman as a mentor.” Fo r m o r e i n f o r m at i o n , contact Nokusis at snokusis@ womenapprentices.ca or visit www.womenapprentices.ca/ saskatchewan.
Tracy Federowich is a first year welder with Boilermakers Local 555. Federowich is one of approximately 100 skilled tradeswomen who are listed in a database maintained by the Office to Advance Women Apprentices. S A R A H M C C AT E E
• General Contracting • Design/Build • Project Management Telephone (306) 384-5906 Facsimile (306) 384-5907 www.d2construction.ca
Continued from previous page terested in pursuing a skilled trades career. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t get frustrated too easily if stigma is placed on you. Work hard and show society that you can do anything. Don’t give up. You must expect there will be resistance and problems that you will need to overcome. Follow your passion and talents and don’t wait for a later stage of life. Time is going to pass anyway, so enjoy what you are going to spend your life doing.” Thiessen continues to follow his own advice. “I want to keep learning and getting better at what I do. My employer is very good with keeping us up to
date with training, especially on new equipment. I enjoy learning new things in this field and being able to apply them in my work.” Winners of the 2020 Apprenticeship Awards, including the Scholarship for Journeypersons with Disabilities, will be announced December 4 (saskapprentceship.ca/apprenticeship-awards) and recognized via the SATCC’s social media channels: Facebook (@SaskApprent i c e s h i p ) ; Tw i t t e r ( @ SKApprentice) and Instagram (@skapprentice). Due to COVID-19, the in-person banquet will not be held. This story was provided by SATCC for promotional purposes.
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Thiessen’s wife, Melissa, is proud of his achievements. “Lester’s journeyperson certification is something that will speak for him; it’s not just him saying: ‘I’m good at fixing combines’ and hoping the person he is speaking to takes his word for it. The certification says: ‘I’ve earned the highest level of achievement for my knowledge of agricultural machinery.’ It carries a weight of proof. It also shows our kids that if they put in the effort, they can follow through with things that are important to them as well.” While Thiessen’s challenges may be different than what others have experienced, he shared some advice for other people with disabilities in-
THE POLYTECHNIC ADVANTAGE:
You’ll learn by doing.
Wanted: skill seekers. Discover the benefits of a career in the skilled trades with SK Youth Apprenticeship.
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 is contracted to provide the in-school portion of apprenticeship training for over 20 trades. A number of Sask Polytech programs can give you a head start towards apprenticeship training.
Learn more at saskpolytech.ca 1-877-363-0536 saskapprenticeship.ca
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