Category: SMWTCS news

 

This year, the annual Skills Canada competition was hosted in Quebec City from May 29 – June 1, 2024. The 2024 Skills National BC Team consisted of 60 phenomenal young individuals, competing in 54 different trade and technology competitions! Each year, competitors from across Canada embark on a journey of innovation, creativity, and excellence by participating in this annual competition.

British Columbia was well represented with 27 medals including 10 gold winners in various trades! Mark Holowachuk of Okanagan College brought home the gold medal for sheet metal! Well done!

Congratulations to all the contestants for their hard work, dedication and passion for their careers in the skilled trades!

Building off our successful UTIP project, SMWTCS received @ $246,500 from the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy (CAS) – federal funding to facilitate access to trades training using new technologies, particularly targeting green initiatives.

Our new Sheet Metal E.R.T. environmental training project will promote environmental stewardship by training apprentices to reduce, reuse, and recycle sheet metal.

 

Project goals include:

• Our apprentices will learn to optimize material usage, reduce waste generation, and increase resource efficiency.

• Our training centres will foster a culture of sustainability, where environmental responsibility becomes ingrained in everyday operations and decision-making processes.

 

Our UTIP project, Technology and an Inclusive Workforce: Forging our Future Sheet Metal Industry wrapped up in March 2024. The 5-year project was successful, despite COVID delaying implementation of training using UTIP funded equipment and outreach activities. We were able to regain momentum and accomplish our objectives.

We purchased a MEWP-VR simulator, AV & VR welders, advanced welding equipment, fan service units, IT equipment and sheet metal consumables, leading to higher quality training and a more skilled workforce. There were 564 sheet metal students who attended technical training between March 2019 – March 2024, of which 45.6% (257 students) journeyed, successfully completing their apprenticeship.

We increased representation of three key groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, newcomers) contributing to a more inclusive workforce. As of June 2023, SkilledTradesBC ranked SMITB 6th overall of Top 10 Sponsors with over 100 Apprenticeships with 8% Indigenous Peoples, and 9th overall with 7% Women. Of note, there are now 75 female SMART Local Union 280 members and we are seeing an increase in the number of newcomers with work permits.

We built broad-based partnerships to influence change in sheet metal industry to support a more diversified workforce. Our partnerships with SMART Local Union 280, SMACNA-BC contractors and the BC Building Trades were instrumental to supporting outreach activities.

Our partnership with Skill Plan led to the implementation of our mandatory online assessment and their Build your Skills online learning modules better prepare apprentices prior to attending technical training.

Skills Ready, an initiative of the Construction Foundation of BC, contracted Sheila Sadler, a female journey to represent sheet metal for outreach activities at BC Skills, career fairs, high school workshops, etc. as well as indigenous peoples’ events.

To support the project evaluation, we conducted surveys with apprentices and hosted annual focus groups with sheet metal workers and contractors to gain better perspective on industry trends and emerging needs. We also launched a UTIP Women in Sheet Metal Advisory Committee, exploring empowerment themes aligned with Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4All) commitment to creating an environment of welcoming, belonging and excellence.

UTIP created opportunities to shift mindset about technology use and increase awareness of supporting greater diversity to address workforce needs. We thank everyone who supported this project leading to its successful outcomes.

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The annual SMACNA-BC annual general meeting brings together contractors and SMART Local members to celebrate the year’s successes. This year’s event was hosted in Penticton May 9 – 11th with the opening reception on Thursday, followed by team building activities on Friday including the Amazing Metal Chase at the evening banquet. Saturday was the AGM, at which the Jud Martell presented the 2023 annual report for the SMITB and SMWTCs. The AGM wrapped up with a new president elected, Mark McLaren of Ridge Metal.

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We bid adieu to one of our longest-standing SMITB Trustees/SMWTCS Directors, Aaron Smith of Smith Sheet Metal Works Ltd. Aaron has been at the helm of SMITB/SMWTCS for 24 years navigating through tremendous change over the years: 

• Hiring, retiring or replacing 4 Training Coordinators, 3 Lead Instructors, a dozen instructors and half dozen administrators

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• Negotiating first-time collective agreement for SMITB staff

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• Creation of the Society (2002) for SMWTCS — as a result of government cut-backs to apprenticeship training triggered by de-certification, SMWTCS was forced to charge tuition

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• Advocacy leading to re-introduction of Skilled Trades Certification 20 years after the government removed compulsory trades

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• Leveraging Main facility (Surrey) to purchase second Valley location (Langley) to meet industry demand for training

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Aaron, we thank you for your dedication, unwavering belief and willpower to leave the Training Centres well positioned to begin a new era.

Please welcome Derek Crowie of Summit Sheet Metal as Aaron’s replacement as Trustee/Director. 

Since our last newsletter in the fall, we’ve had four – level 4 classes with 47 sheet metal apprentices wrap up their technical training at both the Main (Surrey) and Valley (Langley) locations:

2364V-H4 (October 3, 2023 – November 24, 2023)
2414M-H4 (January 8 – March 1, 2024)
2424M-H4 (March 4 – April 26, 2024)
2434-H4 (April 29 – June 21, 2024)

We are very proud of our Sheet Metal Level 4 grads for their class work and preparing for the Interprovincial Red Seal exams. Kudos to each apprentice for their dedication and hard work!

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Skilled Trades Certification (STC), also known as compulsory trades is now in effect in British Columbia, requiring tradespersons working in 7 electrical and mechanical trades. Employers are required to maintain a 2:1 apprentice to journeyperson supervision ratio for their workforce. STC will boost the credibility and prestige of the trades, leading to a highly skilled workforce.

As one of the identified trades, sheet metal workers are required to register as an apprentice or certified journeyperson or challenging their trade interprovincial (IP) exam. SMWTC has expanded to two facilities with more class offerings to meet industry demand for apprenticeship training.

SkilledTradesBC has both provincial and federal supports available to registered employers and apprentices. SkilledTradesBC has also enhanced their STC services to customers by:

• increasing apprenticeship training seats and certification support
• expanded Apprenticeship Advisors team to customize support for individual apprentices
• new dedicated team of Certification Advisors across province
• examination supports including webinars on best practices/strategies to succeed on the exams
• accommodation requests (e.g. translator, reader, additional time for exam)

Trade Qualifiers

Experienced workers with over 5 years’ experience and more than 9,000 verifiable workbased training hours may plan to challenge certification exams as Trade Qualifiers.

There are IP exam refresher courses available through training providers, including SMWTCS. Individuals with learning difficulties may be able to access one-on-one support and request accommodations arrangements.

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Welcome to our Fall 2023 Newsletter.

Would you like to have your art work published in our Newsletter?
We invite you to send your pictures to media@smwtcs.ca.

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View and download our Fall 2023 Newsletter:

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The 47th Annual Canadian Sheet Metal Apprenticeship Competition took place in Saskatoon (July 12 – 15, 2023). This year’s project was a replica of the American-Abell Steam Traction Engine from 1911, displayed in the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon.

Henry Derksen, from Century Plumbing and Heating Ltd., our Level 4 Apprentice Contest winner was selected to represent SMART Local Union 280. Another SMWTC graduate, Melanie Gregor-Payne was selected to represent Local 276. Congrats to both competitors! Check out this YouTube video to meet some of the competitors. Congratulations to all participants!

A return to normalcy! After a LONG hiatus since 2019 thanks to COVID restrictions, the SMWTC Annual Apprentice Contest will be hosted on November 25th at the Main facility.

The contest has apprentices from levels 1, 2, 3 & 4 competing with each other per level. In past years, Level 4 winners represented SMACNA & Local 280 at the Canadian Contest, hosted next year in Monton, NB – May 2024. Level 2 & 3 winners have represented SMWTC at Skills Canada BC Competition hosted at Tradex, in Abbotsford, BC – April 2024.

All competitors will receive door prizes donated by industry including a t-shirt. All level winners will receive a plaque and a Local 280 jacket to be presented at the January general meeting.

Invitations will be sent out to apprentices shortly. Space is limited and first come first serve. We have a limited number of contestant spots so if you don’t want to miss out, please RSVP to Astrid: astrid@smwtcs.ca by Friday, November 17th to reserve your spot!

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