Getting Through This Together

By / Jeff Triggs, BBA Executive Director

Finally, summer is upon us! It’s been quite the year so far for us all. The response by Canadians to this pandemic has made me proud. While we have not all agreed on the actions needed to suppress the virus and to support the economy, I have been encouraged how everyone has made their opinions known but in most cases continued to treat others with respect. Our country is going through a real period of social change, a lot of it inspired by the seemingly backwards actions south of the border. President Trump’s rhetoric in many cases is about cutting back what he feels is unnecessary government intervention and the democrat’s deep state control. However, by taking his actions outside of the legal frameworks instilled by the founding fathers of America, he is actually attacking the freedoms that their country was built on.

The impact in Canada is that we are more willing to look at ourselves and correct wrongdoings in society. Whether its Black Lives Matter, Reconciliation, or the recent news on hazing in junior hockey, our society will move ahead stronger together. And not to make it about money, but a united, educated/trained society will be much more productive in the future with a higher standard of living for everyone. Systemic racism has negative societal and economic costs that are shared by all.

Back to association business. The pandemic has turned everything we do here at the association on its ear. A Level 3 Wall & Ceiling Installer class to begin mid-March was postponed. We have rescheduled that class for September and will have fewer apprentices in class and be teaching it out in our warehouse to ensure physical distancing. There will also be an online component that will help us be prepared if we face a second wave and tightening of social controls.

As you know, many of our events have been cancelled or put on hold. By the time you read this, we will have held our BCWCA AGM online (See Board of Directors appointments on page 6). While it is no surprise, many of our members are much less enthused about virtual meetings as they are no substitute for in person contact. Hopefully, as the pandemic lifts, we will be able to get back to a more normal course of business. Our biggest event of the year, The Western Wall & Ceiling Convention to be held in Victoria, has been tentatively rescheduled for September 16-18, 2021.

The association continues to advocate in interest of members, whether it’s operating safely through this pandemic or dealing with the regulations arising from it. Recently we joined an effort to put the brakes on a WorkSafeBC initiative to add COVID-19 and other such diseases to their schedule 1 of covered illnesses. COVID-19 is not a work-place disease; it is a public health pandemic. Those suffering from it should be made whole by provincial and federal governments.

By sticking together, our membership can ensure that the association remains healthy and can continue to make a positive impact on the industry. Continue to protect yourself, others, and our industry.

Impacts of the Pandemic on Training

A planned Level 3 class of the Wall & Ceiling Installer Program was scheduled to start on March 26, 2020. The decision to postpone the class was made on March 20 in the midst of the uncertainty around the pandemic and what became a global shutdown.

The nine-week class has been rescheduled for September 10, 2020 under the assumptions that BC will still be in Phase 2 or 3 of the reopening of the economy. We have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place: for those of you still needing to put one together, you can download a template from the WorksafeBC website https://www.worksafebc.com/en along with signs that can be printed and posted in your workplaces.

Our COVID-19 Safety Plan lays out how the BCWCA will operate to protect staff and students while operating during the pandemic. In addition to the aforementioned signs, we will be hosting a maximum of 12 students, and the classroom will be moved outside to our warehouse area (as opposed to the classroom) so that physical distancing can be more easily maintained. We have plans for separate entry and exit to the building and all students and staff will be instructed not to come to school when feeling sick or under the weather. When physical distancing can’t be maintained, staff and apprentices will be asked to wear face coverings.

We are also planning on holding a portion of the curriculum online. This will allow everyone to gain some experience with online learning in the event we can not continue with classes in the traditional brick and mortar fashion. While not an ideal situation, we may be able to help the Level 3 apprentices prepare for their Red Seal exam.

Have a great summer, and I hope to see you at school in September. ▪

Leesa Matwick Retiring

Leesa recently informed us that she will be retiring this fall from her position at the BCWCA. She has been with the organization for 14 years and served in many roles from Accountant to Executive Director to Training Director. Leesa has really been a “Jill of all Trades” over the years. She helped with the finishing of our training center during construction of the facility in 2008. This included painting, decorating, ordering fixtures, and assembling furniture. More recently, she applied a coat of fresh paint. She has organized and operated countless events over the years, including a BCWCA Family Walk for the BC Cancer Foundation. She helped spearhead our participation at the Skills BC competition and has been the glue that has held the event together ever since. This is in addition to organizing all things training and keeping the books in tip-top condition. While the Association will miss her skills and experience, her colleagues, members, and students will miss her sunny disposition and energy the most. We wish Leesa and her husband Mike all the best in their retirement. Best wishes and we will miss you! ▪