Skilled Trades Digest

Academy Canada Forms Partnership With Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association

Posted March 21, 2012

The National Association of Career Colleges, or NACC, has recognized Academy Canada for establishing a partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association.

This partnership seeks to bridge the gap between training and employment to help apprentices get their first jobs faster.

Congratulations to James Loder for being elected to the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association Board of Directors as their Education and Training Committee Chairperson.

2012 Skills Canada In-House Competition - Harding Road Campus

Posted February 21, 2012

From February 7, 2012 - February 16, 2012, the Harding Road Campus held their annual In-House Skills Canada competition.

No second or third place finishes were awarded for most classes.

Therefore, only the winners are announced.

Automotive Service Technician competitors do their theoretical examinations.

Carpentry competitors work on a shed frame.

2012 Skills Canada In-House Competition - Kenmount Road Campus

Posted February 16, 2011

On February 9, 2012, the Kenmount Road Campus held their annual In-House Skills Canada Competition.

Here are your medal winners.

Esthetics competitors displays her makeup skills.

Hairstyling students are cutting a mannequin's hair.

Computer Aided Drafting students preparing to make their designs.

Massage Therapy students put their skills to the test blindfolded.

Shipbuilding Contract Means Tradespeople Needed Closer To Home

Posted October 20, 2011

On October 19, 2011, the Department of National Defence announced the winning bids for the combat and civilian shipbuilding contracts.

Irving Shipbuilding, Seapsan Marine, and Davie Shipyard bidded for the shipbuilding work.

Halifax's Irving Shipbuilding is the big winner as they are awarded the largest shipbuilding contract in Canadian history valued at $25 billion.

This contract means that the Halifax based Irving Shipbuilding yard will manufacture 21 combat ships over a 30 year period.

What will this shipbuilding contract mean for Atlantic Canadians?

This shipbuilding contract will mean that thousands, perhaps tens and thousands, of skilled tradespeople will be needed closer to home, not only in Halifax, not only in Nova Scotia, but possibly throughout Atlantic Canada.

Over a 30 year period, this contract means that at least 4,000 welders, electricians, millwrights, insulators, pipefitters, steamfitters, and other skilled tradespeople will be needed.

This means that skilled tradespeople will have a opportunity to pursue their trade closer to home over the long term.

2011 Skills Canada NL Competition

Posted April 4, 2011

On April 1, 2011, Academy Canada was excited to participate in the 10th Annual Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Competition.

Overall, we won a total of 7 individual medals.

Our medallists include:

Academy Canada wishes to congratulate our participants and coaches for their great performance at the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador competition.

We like to wish our Gold Medallist, Joseph Legge, great success at the Skills Canada National Skills Competition in Quebec City, Quebec from June 1, 2011 to June 4, 2011.

For everyone else, see you at Skills Canada 2012!

Sasha Penney proudly displays her Skills Canada NL Bronze Medal with her instructor Tracey Humphries.

"I was privileged to represent and win the first medal for OAT at the Corner Brook Campus- with the being said, I hope it's the first of many. Even if I had not been successful in placing for medal contention, the sheer experience was reward enough & I would encourage anyone to take part if given the opportunity." Sasha Penney.

Esthetics student, Sarah Bursey, proudly displays her silver medal.

Automotive Service Technician student, Jeremy McKenna (left), receives his bronze medal.

Construction/Industrial Electrician student, Frederick Roy (right), receives his silver medal in the Electrical Installations competition.

Plumbing student, Scott Taplin (left), receives his bronze medal.

Kenmount and Harding Road Campuses wishes to thank Heather Cox for the medal presentation photos.

Strengthening Apprenticeship Seminar

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and Industry Coordinating Committee proudly present their "Strengthening Apprenticeship - Building a Strong Foundation" seminar held at the Sheraton Hotel in St. John's on March 16, 2011 from 7:45 AM - 4:00 PM.

Apprenticeship program students and graduates, Apprentices, Journeypersons, and other individuals involved in skill trades oriented professions are encouraged to register and participate in this event.

For more information about the Strengthening Partnership Seminar or to download the registration form, please click here.

Registration is free.

Survey Says Apprenticeships Pay Off

Employment rates for those who complete apprenticeships is around 89 per cent.

Thinking about a career in the trades? The numbers show that it’s worth your while to complete an apprenticeship.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l’apprentissage (CAF-FCA) recently commissioned a new survey that compares apprentices to people who did not complete an apprenticeship after post-secondary school.

The CAF-FCA released the survey’s findings in a report called Assessing Apprenticeship Outcomes: Building a Case for Pursuing and Completing an Apprenticeship. The results pointed favorably to those who completed apprenticeships.

Their data overwhelmingly shows a post-secondary education combined with an apprenticeship makes you more employable (both after graduation and over the long term) and leads to a better earning potential, while helping you find higher levels of job satisfaction and job security.

The report shows that employment rates for apprenticeship completers is around 89 per cent, compared to only 76 per cent for technical/applied program completers or near-completers and 69 per cent for trades program completers or near-completers.

In the same vein, apprentices who completed their training were found to earn an average of $29.08 per hour when they enter the workforce. This is compared to $23.29 reported by the technical/applied group, $21.01 by the trades group, and $22.33 by those in the non-trade post-secondary average group.

Source: Study Magazine - http://studymagazine.com/2011/02/22/survey-apprenticeships-pay/.
Author: Ryan Leclaire

Tradespeople Are In Demand Not Only In Canada, But Also Worldwide

Posted May 20, 2010

The global economic downturn as well as a possible double-dipped recession has swelled the job seekers ranks but it doesn’t mean employers had an easier time clinching the talent they need.

A recent international survey indicates that persistent talent shortages continue to hobble employer's growth plans worldwide, particularly Canada.

According to Manpower Canada’s fifth talent-shortage survey, 31% of employers worldwide and 21% of employers across Canada are experiencing problems filling key skilled positions, mainly in skilled trades related occupations.

Japan has the greatest difficulty filling positions due to insufficient skilled tradespeople pool, population declines, and an aging workforce. Ireland and Great Britain have the fewest problems obtaining skilled workers.

Adding to the challenge is the growing need for ever-more specific skill sets, making it that much harder to find a person with the right fit.

"We are seeing a ‘jobless’ recovery in many parts of the world, yet where there are jobs available employers are having difficulty filling positions,” says Byrne Luft, vice-president of marketing for Manpower Canada, a human-resources consulting, career management and recruitment firm.

The global study surveyed more than 35,000 employers in 36 countries and territories during the first quarter of 2010. In Canada, there were 1,916 respondents.

Source: CTV News Website, http://www.ctv.ca/generic/generated/static/business/article1574799.html.

2010 Skills Canada NL Competition

Posted April 12, 2010

On March 26, 2010, Academy Canada was excited to participate in the 9th Annual Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Competition.

Overall, we won a total of 11 individual medals as well as one campus overall medal.

Our medallists include:

Academy Canada wishes to congratulate our participants and coaches for their great performance at the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador competition.

We like to wish our Gold Medallist, Matthew Fiander, great success at the Skills Canada National Skills Competition in Waterloo, Ontario from May 20-23, 2010.

For everyone else, see you at Skills Canada 2011!

Steve Gould - Carpentry Competitor

Derrick Decker - Electrical Competitor

Matthew Finader (middle) and Ryan Legge (right) receive their Computer Aided Drafting gold and bronze medals respectively.

Courtney Duval (right) receives her Hairstyling competition bronze medal.

Your Path To Interprovincial Red Seal Journeyperson Status

Posted March 30, 2010

Most apprenticeship programs have a 5,400 to 7,200 hour duration, meaning that in-school training and work experience must total this number before an apprentice is eligible to write the Interprovincial Red Seal Exam.

Attaining an Interprovincial Red Seal Journeyperson status means a student can practice his/her trade almost anywhere nationwide.

For more information about the steps to write the Interprovincial Red Seal exam, please click here.

Skilled Labour Shortage Problems Already Having An Impact

Posted March 1, 2010

Over the last five years, Canadians were warned about a major skilled labour shortage nationwide this decade due to mass retirements, declining national birth rate, increasing demand for major projects, and an aging population.

While every occupation will experience labour shortages from bed makers and orderlies to brain surgeons, the construction industry is expected to be the hardest hit and its impacts are already felt nationwide.

According to "The Chronicle Herald" article entitled "Costly Labour Shortage" dated February 28, 2010, skilled labour shortages are causing major cost pressures on public and private projects, not just in Nova Scotia, but throughout Canada.

The "Colchester East Hants Regional Hospital" project was originally priced at $104 million, but the costs has now grown to $180 million as contractors have to transport and house workers from outside Nova Scotia or other parts of the province to minimize the skilled labour shortfall.

Almost every municipality in Nova Scotia is experiencing a similar labour shortage and cost pressure problem, not just large scale private or public sector infrastructure contracts and projects, but also smaller contracts such as snow removal service.

Jim McNiven, Dalhousie University Senior Policy Research Advisor and Professor Emeritus, states that even though Nova Scotia will be looking at near zero percent unemployment by 2015, many jobs will be unfilled regardless of required skill levels.

He also says the cost pressure problems with Truro's new hospital is going to be a common issue throughout Canada.

Michael Anderson, Canadian Construction Association President, says the current economic downturn has created a larger labour pool, but will quickly disappear once the recovery begins to occur.

In fact, the Construction industry will need at least 320,000 new workers in the next seven years to keep pace with expected mass retirements, declining birth rates, and increasing demands for large private and public sector projects.

This shortfall means that individuals specializing in skilled trades such as carpenters, electricians, heat and frost insulators, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, steamfitters, pipefitters, and welders will be in demand.

Source: "The Chronicle Herald" article "Costly Labour Shortage".

Corner Brook Campus In-House Skills Competition Winners

Posted February 25, 2010

The Corner Brook Campus Cooking students participated in their in-house skills competition on February 11, 2010. Participating members were Brittany Ellsworth, Dean Warford, Mark Bennett, and Kayla Wall.

Brittany Ellsworth was the Cooking competition winner. She will represent the Corner Brook Campus at the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador, 13th Annual Provincial Skills Competition, to be held on March 26, 2010 at the College of the North Atlantic Prince Philip Drive Campus in St. John's.

Other in-house skills competition winners include Derrick Decker (Electrical) and Steve Gould (Carpentry). They will also represent our campus at the upcoming provincial skills competition.

For more information about the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador 13the Annual Skills Competiton, please visit the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Upcoming Events page at http://www.skillscanada-nfld.com/upcoming.php.

Brittany Ellsworth prepares a chicken dish.

2010 Harding Road Campus Skills Competition

Updated February 10, 2010

The Harding Road Campus held its In-House Skills Canada Competition on February 2, 2010.

Automotive, Carpentry, Construction/Industrial Electrician, and Plumbing students competed for an opportunity to represent Academy Canada at the Provincial Skills Canada Competition on March 26, 2010.

After the competition was completed our judges selected the following medalists.

*David Ash was acclaimed the Welding winner.

**There are no Skills Canada competitions for Steamfitting.

Cooking students will hold their in-house skills competition from February 8 - 9, 2010.

Brendan McDermott - Carpentry Competitor

Danielle Browne - Plumbing Competitor

Steven Tobin - Automotive Competitor

Scott Anstey - Electrical Competitor

Some Harding Road Campus "In House" Award Winners

Life as a … Plumber

One of the most misunderstood skilled trades occupations is the Plumber. Despite the perception of some, this is actually a very rewarding, high paying profession that offers tremendous job satisfaction.

Plumbers plan, install and service plumbing systems, fixtures, piping equipment, and controls. These piping systems may be used to transport water, waste, gases, or hot liquids.

On a typical construction job, plumbers do the “roughing in” after the frame and roof of a new building are in place. In other words, they:

• Study the building plans and specifications to determine the layout for the plumbing and other materials.
• Locate and mark the positions for connections and fixtures.
• Cut holes through walls and floors to accommodate pipes.
• Select the type and size of pipe required and measure, cut, thread, bend, clamp, solvent cement or solder pipe.
• Assemble and install valves and fittings.
• Join pipe sections and secure them in position.
• Test pipe systems for leaks.
• Install underground storm sanitary and water piping system.

Plumbers return to the construction site after the plasterers or drywallers, tilesetters, and floor covering installers have completed their work to do the “finishing” work such as installing sinks, tubs, and toilets.

Plumbers may specialize in the types of work they do:

• Installing water conditioners.
• Installing plumbing in houses under construction.
• Installing plumbing in commercial, institutional, industrial or public buildings.
• Renovating, maintaining and repairing existing plumbing.

Construction Industry Faces Large Labour Shortages

While Canada is now experiencing an economic recovery, skilled trades training capacity must be increased now to address the growing labour shortage problem.

During a recent BNN interview on October 20, 2009, Paul Charette from Employers Coalition for Advanced Skills says that the Construction industry is predicting a shortage of at least 316,000 new workers in the next eight years.

Travel, Hospitality, Engineering, and Health Care industries are also facing possible labour shortages due to mass retirements, aging population, and increased demand for major construction projects.

The community and private career college systems must increase apprenticeship and advance skills training spaces to meet the growing demand and reduce labour shortage, and help Canada stay competitive on a global scale.

Increasing available training spaces alone will not tackle the labour shortage problem. Negative social and societal attitudes towards college education must also change.

Many parents born between 1946 and 1964, commmonly known as the "baby boom era", still want their children to attend university instead of college without realizing the potential career opportunities and great pay associated with skilled trades.

To help tackle the negative social stigma towards a college education, the Employers Coalition for Advanced Skills are now hosting presentations and speakers bureaus at high schools across Canada to get students interested in advanced skills based careers. It also informs students that university is not the only training option on a path to their chosen careers.

Because six college graduates are needed for every university graduate, increasing advanced skills and apprenticeship training capacity at a college level as well as tackling social stigma towards college based training will not only eliminate the looming labour shortage, but make Canada competitive at a global level.

To view the October 20, 2009, BNN interview with Paul Charette from the Employers Coalition for Advanced Skills, click here.

Nine Harding Road Campus Welding Students Pass Canadian Welding Bureau Testing

On June 16, 2009, nine welding students at the Harding Road Campus participated in the CWB testing process, and all were successful.

The Harding Road Campus staff would like to extend congratulations to the following students on a job well done:

• Brad Mouland
• Mike Healey
• David Peddle
• Dale Luffman
• Corey Skehans
• Derek Gosine
• Gregory Butt
• Aaron Parrell
• Colin O'Dea

Harding Road Campus Welding students celebrate passing their CWB tests.

About Canadian Welding Bureau Testing

Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) certification means that a certified company, individual, or product has met all the Certification Standard requirements, and has been issued a certifying organization's Certificate of Compliance.

National and Provincial Building Codes across Canada require certification, and over thirty other National Standards of Canada and Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Standards.

Many buyers and authorities specify certification as an assurance that the prospective supplier has demonstrated their welds and weldments manufacturing capabilities, and meeting required quality and product reliability standards.

Six Academy Canada Students Pass Red Seal Journeyperson Certification Exams

Academy Canada wishes to congratulate the following students for passing their Red Seal Journeyperson Certification exams.

Steamfitter/Pipefitter - Harding Road Campus:

• Adam Brenton
• Trevor Hefferan
• David Kelly
• Stephen Parrell

Welder - Corner Brook Campus:

• Dallas Dobbin
• Jonathan Newbury

Photos will be posted as soon as they become available.

Harding Road Campus Welding Students Pass Canadian Welding Bureau Flat Position Ticket Exams

The Harding Road Campus is proud to announce that 12 Welding students recently passed their Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) Flat Position exam.

This is a great accomplishment, and Academy Canada is very proud of all students along with their instructor, Steve Nugent.

Successful students included:

• Kevin Moss
• David Smith
• Natasha Jones
• Ashley Giovannini
• Frankie Pike
• Shawn Lynch
• Christopher Kennedy
• Noel Hammett
• Adam Peach
• Lucas Norman
• Ben Burke
• Jared Rideout

About Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB):

The Canadian Welding Bureau, herein referred to as CWB, was formed in 1947 as a Division of the Canadian Standards Association to administer a certification program for companies involved with steel structures welding.

In 1991, they were federally incorporated as an independent, not-for-profit, organization in the private sector, to provide certification and registration services to industry.

The CWB's function is to provide certification services in accordance with established standards or other documents. They have over 100 full and part-time employees, including engineers, technologists, technicians, field service personnel, and support staff located at their Mississauga base and five other locations across Canada.

The Bureau is a Standards Council of Canada accredited Certification Body for CSA Standards W47.1, W47.2, W186, W178.1, and W48 administration.

Canadian Welding Bureau Mission

The CWB is dedicated to the success of it clients and the enhancement of public safety. Its success is achieved through the provision of Welding Certification Services.

Steve Nugent's Welding students all smiles after successfully passing CWB Flat Position exams.

Academy Canada Partners With Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 137

You recently heard a lot about skilled trades careers. It's a thriving sector that provides an opportunity to earn respect and great pay while doing something you love. And as an apprentice, you start making money right away, earning while you learn a chosen trade.

Skilled Tradespeople contribute every day to our economy, environment, and infrastructure. They build the homes, schools, bridges, oil refineries, water treatment facilities, businesses, industrial facilities, and other infrastructure essential to our daily lives. Every day, they help make Canada a better place to live.

Men and women working as construction oriented tradespeople use skills beyond manual and mechanical skills. They use mathematics, computers, and problem-solving skills every day on the job. In other words, they also work with their heads as well as their hands.

With dozens of careers in the construction industry, countless advancement opportunities are available. Skilled Tradespeople can build long and rewarding careers, moving into roles such as Project Manager, Manager, Supervisor, Foreperson, or Estimator. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit can also start their own business.

Heat and Frost Insulators is one of the most important Skilled Trades. Insulators play a fundamental role in our lives. They are essential to every large institutional, commercial, and industrial construction.

Ensuring proper insulation, heat and frost insulators significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cutting back on pollution, saving energy, and preserve our environment.

Heat and Frost Insulators fabricate, assemble, and apply insulation materials to plumbing, heating, cooling, and refrigeration systems. They also apply piping equipment and pressure vessels to reduce heat, cold, sound, smoke, or fire passage. Their role is essential to Canada's economy and environment.

Nearly every large industrial, institutional, and commercial construction project requires at least one Heat and Frost Insulator. Their work also helps save energy, reducing pollutants, and preserving valuable natural resources.

Heat and Frost Insulator duties include:

• Applying and securing insulation.
• Measuring and cutting insulating material using hand and power tools.
• Installing vapour, fire, and smoke barriers.
• Apply waterproofing cement over insulating materials to finish surfaces.
• Reading and interpreting specifications to select the type of insulation required.

Whoever said money isn't everything is right. There's more to a Heat and Frost Insulator than just great pay. They have pride in contributing a vital service to our country, satisfaction in a job well done, and excitement at getting to travel and see the world.

Salaries and wages are a great incentive, too. A full-time Journeyperson, however, can expect to earn between $31,200 and $68,640 per year. If you're keen to work extra hours, you could bring home even more.

Heat and Frost Insulators are remarkable people. They're skilled, dedicated, hard-working, and smart. They also need to be good with their hands and able to think quickly.

Successful Heat and Frost Insulators:

• Have an eye for detail.
• Work well independently and as part of a team.
• Are comfortable working with machinery and power tools.
• Enjoy working indoors and outdoors.
• Are comfortable working at heights and in confined spaces.
• Have a basic understanding of algebra and geometry.

Academy Canada Career College is proud to be the Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 137, choice trainer. Through a formal partnership formed in 2008, Local 137 provides the college advice on our Curriculum, Instructor selection and shop facilities. They also agreed to automatically admit graduates into the union to ensure their greatest chance at success.

According to Robert Hunt, there are great opportunities today and on the horizon for Academy Canada graduates at the Come By Chance Oil Refinery, Vale-Inco Long Habour Nickel Processing Facility, Hebron and Bull Arm Construction Site in addition to opportunities across the country.

Click on the link for an information video about the Heat and Frost Insulator career http://www.heatandfrostinsulators.ca/video_e.asp

Sources: http://www.heatandfrostinsulators.ca & Robert Hunt, Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 137.

Skilled Trades Interest Growing Among Young People

According to a VOCM article entitled "Young People Focused on Skilled Trades", skilled trades careers are quickly becoming a good career choice for Newfoundland and Labrador's youth.

Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador President, John Oates, says more young people are looking at skilled trades as a viable career option due to great advancement opportunities, excellent compensation, and a chance to practice your professional throughout the province and nationwide if he/she obtains a Red Seal Journeyperson Certification.

John Oates credits the increased skilled trades interest and progress to greater partnerships with industry, government, labour, and education through provincial, national, and international competitions.

He also says young people are now recognizing the benefits, rewards, and opportunities skilled trades have to offer, especially with projected labour shortages throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and possibly world wide.

Source: VOCM. http://vocm.com/news-info.asp?id=35396.

Skilled Tradespeople Demand Expected To Remain High

Even though we are experiencing one of the biggest economic downturns since the Great Depression, a combination of "baby boomer" mass retirements, increasing natural resources demand from emerging economies such as China, India, Russia, and Brazil, and greater industrial, residential, and institutional projects demand will result in skilled worker shortages across Canada.

The resulting skilled worker shortage means a large tradespeople demand over the next ten to twenty years.

According to Harding Road Campus Principal, James Loder, if you're prepared to go where the work is, there are abundant opportunities. For electricians, steamfitters, welders, and plumbers, individuals skilled in these professions are having no problem obtaining employment.

The main reason an individual considers a career in skill trades are higher than average pay. In fact, Statistics Canada reports an average tradesperson earns $22.36 per hour, higher than the $21.02 per hour average in other occupations.

The Shortage

While 15% of Canada's labour force population are actively employed as skilled tradespeople, all provinces and territories will continue to experience a large labour shortage if no proactive measures are taken.

When companies are not able to have all workers needed to complete large scale industrial, residential, and institutional projects, Canada will suffer from stunted economic growth and reduced competitiveness on a global scale, and these consequences will have a negative ripple effect not only to the Canadian economy, but also an entire labour market.

Some sectors are at greater tradespeople shortage risk than others, especially in the automotive, construction, railway, mining, and aircraft maintenance sectors.

However, one sector likely to take the largest hit resulting from the tradespeople shortage is natural resource extraction. In fact, the Mining Industry Human Resources Council predicts the Canadian mining industry could experience a 92,000 worker shortage over the next eight years. Alberta's oil sands industry, which employs 33,000 people, will need another 17,000 over the next two to three years.

Travellers Wanted

The biggest barriers for anyone pursuing a skilled trades career are retraining and relocating, especially for workers with strong ties to their region or province.

As a result of this major barrier to skilled trades, especially in the Alberta Oil Patch, cross-country commuting has become a common event, meaning they follow the workflow without having to relocate their families.

Many cross-country commuters from Newfoundland work on a "20 and 8" shift. This means that a person can work for 20 days in Alberta and then return to Newfoundland for eight days.

While cross-country commuting is one major solution to the skills tradespeople shortage problem, it doesn't provide enough workers to meet the ever growing demand. As a result, the Government of Canada has imposed other solutions including the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Beware The Ripple Effect

When trades oriented industries boom, every economic sector also benefits from restaurants to retailers.

However, if a town, province, or region doesn't have enough skilled tradespeople, the shortage can cause a negative ripple effect throughout the area's economy, resulting in stunted economic growth, lower tax revenues, and deteriorating infrastructure.

The skilled labour crisis in one community could result in a negative impact in nearby communities, or in worse cases, even an entire province or country as production limitations threaten Canada's ability to compete with other countries in the global market.

Therefore, according to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, skilled labour shortages are not just local, community, and provincial issues, but its also a nationwide systemic problem.

Trades People In Demand Throughout Newfoundland and Labrador

Come By Chance, Sunnyside, Arnold's Cove, and other communities along Newfoundland's Placentia Bay area will need skilled workers to construct the province's fourth oil rig needed for the Hebron project. This project is expected to commence in 2012.

Kathy Dunderdale, Newfoundland and Labrador's Natural Resources Minister, states that during production phase, she anticipates continued employment over the project's 20-25 year life span.

While the Hebron Project will mean long term employment for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, the province currently doesn't have enough skilled tradespeople, particularly in construction and steel fabrication, since many have ventured to the Alberta Oil Patch or other parts of Western Canada for work.

To help fill the 3,500 jobs expected to stem from the $20 billion project, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has spent an additional $1.5 million into new skilled trades courses at College of the North Atlantic, and another $1 million to develop two specialized programs targeted at the oil and gas industry.

Furthermore, some high schools also offer a hands-on course called Future in Skilled Trades and Technology, where teachers teach their students how to use state of the art equipment and tools used in trades to perform various projects ranging from basic construction to engine repair.

These initiatives seem to be working. From 2006 to 2007, the province produced 65% more apprentices and 41% more locals attained their Journeyperson certification.

In addition to major tradespeople demand for the Hebron Project, they will be needed for Newfoundland and Labrador's other long term industrial mega projects including Vale Inco's Voisey's Bay Mine and Concentrator Facility, Nalcor's Lower Churchill Project, and Vale Inco's Hydromet Plant in Long Harbour.

As a result, more tradespeople will likely stay in Newfoundland and Labrador over the long term to work on these long term projects, helping to reduce our skilled labour shortage.

"Skilled Tradespeople Demand Expected To Be High" Update

On April 2, 2009, Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec governments signed a historic deal to sell electricity directly into North America's main power grid without relying on intermediaries such as Hydro Quebec or Nova Scotia's Emera Energy.

The deal allows Newfoundland and Labrador to sell renewable energy from hydro directly to major North American markets, including up to 300,000 customers in the New York City area.

This precedent setting deal, allowing Newfoundland and Labrador to export energy other than fossil fuels like oil and natural gas to major markets, could set the stage for additional major renewable energy related mega projects in the next 10 to 20 years as North America's energy needs grow along with our need to reduce our "Carbon Footprint".

As a result of greater energy demands, skilled tradespeople from Heavy Equipment Operators to Steamfitter/Pipefitters and Construction/Industrial Electricians are expected to be in great demand to help fuel North America's increasing power needs, and stimulate the Newfoundland and Labrador economy at the same time.

For more details about the historic energy deal between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, please visit the CBC Newfoundland and Labrador news article, "N.L. makes history with power sale through Quebec", at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2009/04/02/williams-power-wheel.html.

Sources: jobboom.com Trade Up Your Career, Skilled Labour Shortfall Strikes Canada, Have Trades Will Hire.

Skilled Trades Interest Growing Among Young People

According to a VOCM article entitled "Young People Focused on Skilled Trades", skilled trades careers are quickly becoming a good career choice for Newfoundland and Labrador's youth.

Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador President, John Oates, says more young people are looking at skilled trades as a viable career option due to great advancement opportunities, excellent compensation, and a chance to practice your professional throughou the province and nationwide if he/she obtains a Red Seal.

John Oates credits the increased skilled trades interest and progress to greater partnerships with industry, government, labour, and education through provincial, national, and international competitions.

He also says young people are skills trades related rewards, benefits, and opportunities, especially with projected labour shortages throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, across Canada, and possibly world wide.

Source: VOCM. http://vocm.com/news-info.asp?id=35396.

Academy Canada Students Post Stellar Results at Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Competition

On April 3, 2009, Academy Canada was excited to participate in the 8th Annual Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Career Day and Competition.

In addition to hosting some of the events, our students, along with support from their coaches, competed in 10 events ranging from Esthetics to Welding.

Overall, we won a total of 8 medals.

Our medallists include:

According to James Loder, the Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador competition was a wonderful learning experience in ongoing student professional development.

Academy Canada would like to thank all participants, coaches, and also Skills Canada organizers, judges, and hosts for such a great event. We could not do it without you.

We like to wish our Gold Medallist, Josh Lee, great success at the National Skills Competition in Charlottetown, PEI later this spring.

For everyone else, see you at Skills Canada 2010!

Automotive Technology competitor works on a project.

Automotive Technology competitors.

Natalia Trafimava receives a well earned Bronze Medal in Mechanical CAD.

Josh Lee receiving his Mechanical CAD Gold Medal.

Randall Pilkington displays his Skills Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Participation Certificate.

Three Former Corner Brook Campus Students Achieve Carpenter Red Seal Journeyperson Certifications

Academy Canada Career College is happy to announce three students passed their Carpenter Red Seal Journeyperson exams held last week in Corner Brook.

Former Corner Brook Campus Carpenter students, Paul Bartlett, Patrick Casey, and Walter Caines, successfully achieved their Carpenter Red Seal certifications after passing their Red Seal exam.

Congratulations goes out to Paul, Patrick, and Walter from students and staff at our Corner Brook Campus. We wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Paul Bartlett

Patrick Casey

Walter Caines

2009 Harding Road Campus Skills Competition

Academy Canada Harding Road Campus held its In-House Skills Canada Competition on February 12, 2009. Apprentices from Cooking, Carpentry, Automotive, Plumbing, and Welding competed for an opportunity to represent the College at the Provincial Skills Competition on April 3.

Provincial winners will represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the Skills Canada Nationals to be held from May 20-23 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

After a full day of intense competition involving over 30 participants, our judges selected the following medallists.

*John Flynn will represent Academy Canada at the Welding provincials in James Puddister's place.

Harding Road Campus Carpentry Competitors

Competitor prepares for a Welding project.

Judges evaluating the projects to determine a winner.

Harding Road Campus Skills Competition Winners and Competitors.

What is Skills Canada?

Skills Canada is a not-for-profit organization, working with employers, educators, labour groups, and governments to reposition trades and technical courses as a first choice career option for Canadian youth. Their mandate is to guide students towards skills trade related careers and technologies. Along with private and public sector partners, they are helping to secure Canada's future labour needs.

Their goals include:

• Providing unique, proven, and efficient program to raise awareness in current and emerging skilled trades and technology careers through bridging young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians into a competitive spotlight.
• Actively lead in developing dynamic partnerships with agencies and organizations involved in identifying and using best practices to help promote current and emerging skilled trades and technologies.

According to Skills Canada, inadequate information about rewarding trades and technology opportunities prohibits many young Canadians from considering a career in skilled trades. Through provincial, national, and international skills competitions, Skills Canada Competitions Newfoundland and Labrador helps make these occupations more viable for teachers, students, parents, and general public.

These competitions are an incredible hands-on expertise, talent, and determination display showcasing many promising careers and opportunities to be found in skilled trades and technologies.

Skills Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador together with their many public and private sector partners wants youth to understand the many opportunities, benefits, and rewards involving skilled trades and technology jobs. Improving expertise and confidence for individuals pursuing trades and technology careers will benefit us all.

Five Corner Brook Campus Students To Represent Academy Canada At Provincial Skills Competition

Skills Canada is a national not for profit organization actively promoting skilled trades and technology careers to Canadian youth. High School and Post Secondary students compete each year for an opportunity to represent their school and then their province in a National Skills Canada competition.

Ten Corner Brook Campus students competed for an opportunity to represent their school at the Skills Canada Provincial competition to be held in St. John's this April.

Competitors were selected from five training areas at our Corner Brook campus including Carpenter, Construction/Industrial Electrician, Cook, Hairstylist and Welder.

The team heading to St. John’s in April are:

• Carpenter - Andrew Burden
• Construction/Industrial Electrician - Steven Lodge
• Cook - Brittany Ellsworth
• Hairstylist - Tiffany Pollett
• Welder - Robert Hulan

Brittany Ellsworth prepares a meal.

Tiffany Pollett displays her hairstyling expertise.

Robert Hulan works on a Welding project.

Andrew Burden constructs a frame for a Carpenter competition.

Left To Right: Robert Hulan (Welder), Tiffany Pollett (Hairstylist), Brittany Ellsworth (Cook), and Stephen Lodge (Construction/Industrial Electrician).
Missing: Andrew Burden (Carpenter)

The Piping Trades - Jobs With A Future

Plumbers, Pipelayers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters all fall under the category of piping trades. People in these occupations work on many different pipe systems, from water and sewage treatment plants that service an entire town or city, to skyscrapers and homes. They might also work on waste removal, gas, and climate control systems along with Heat and Frost Insulators.

Pipes are used in a variety of different disciplines, trades, and professions. They are used to hold steam to power turbine engines or at industrial facilities to transport materials. They are also used in the creation of computer chips and medicines.

While the piping trades have many career opportunities available for them, they mostly focus on one of the following professions.

Pipelayer: They dig and level trenches and then lay pipes for drainage, sewer, water, and gas systems. While the pipes are mostly made of cast iron, they can also be made of other materials such as cement, plastic, iron, or clay.

Plumber: They are typically involved in installing plumbing fixtures, water heaters, and complex systems in individual structures. This means installing gas, water, draining, and sewer systems in individual houses or buildings.

Steamfitter/Pipefitter: They work with both low and high pressure pipes used mainly for commercial and industrial purposes such as hydroelectric power plants, factories, and central air conditioning and heating systems. They also install, maintain, and repair these systems, and also incorporate automated controls to keep systems working properly.

Workers in these areas use specialized tools and techniques. For example, installing a water system at home requires using steel, copper, and plastic piping which workers can manage on their own, or with only one person. Conversely, city wide water and sewage treatment systems use pipes made of cast iron which are extremely heavy, requiring a large team of plumbers, steamfitters, and pipefitters.

While plumbing, steamfitting, and pipefitting mainly involves assembling pipes for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, they also have to follow instructions from builders and contracts, read blueprints, plan the work to be done, and be capable and efficient. Computer software, including Project Management and Computer Aided Design systems are used more often to track construction progress and make detailed plans, including instructing a plumber, steamfitter, or pipefitter where to position a pipe, fixture and appliance locations, and material types needed for the job.

Design work has become another important aspect of the Plumber occupation. Plumbers prepare and study plans and specifications for the layout of plumbing systems and materials needed. They also plan out pipe types used for a particular project, and how they are going to install it. For example, houses with multiple stories have washrooms directly above each other so not to use as much piping is needed to reach them. They also measure where the pipes will go in the actual structure and indicate where these pipes will be joined.

The plumbing, steamfitting, and pipefitting trades can be physically demanding as workers will have to kneel, stand, or bend for long periods of times. They are also expected to handle heavy, unwieldy pipe pieces and heavy machinery to assemble pipes.

Because the demand for major residential, industrial, and commercial projects will increase significantly over the next ten years coupled with more people seeking employment in less physically demanding professions, career prospects for steamfitters, pipefitters, pipelayers, and plumbers are projected to be excellent.

Furthermore, tougher plumbing regulations along with growth in remodeling projects, increasing need for repairing and replacing old systems, and routine maintenance for facilities with miles of pipes found in manufacturing plants, power plants, sewage and water treatment facilities, and large buildings will also lead to greater demand and excellent employment opportunities.

Steamfitter/Pipefitter students measuring a steel plank for their project.

Steamfitter/Pipefitter students cutting a steel plank.

Women In Trades

According to the January 30, 2005 CTV Newsnet Article "Shortage of Canadian Skilled Trade Workers", unless appropriate interventions are implemented to stem the chronic skilled trades worker shortage in industrial, construction, and transportation oriented trades, Canada could experience a shortage of at least 1,000,000 skilled tradespeople in 2015.

The reasons for possible chronic shortage of highly skilled tradespeople include mass retirements among existing trades people, insufficient promotion and public awareness campaigns, perceptions among youth that university is a way to go for great paying long term jobs, and lack of knowledge about the wonderful career opportunities and great pay associated with being a skilled tradesperson.

Despite warning signs of a possible skilled tradespeople shortage in Canada, meaning a greater demand for skilled tradespeople than ever before, women are still not well represented in skilled trades. In fact, only 17% of women in Newfoundland and Labrador are presently undergoing apprenticeships or apprenticeship training, mostly in service oriented trades like Baker, Cook, Barber, and Hairstyling. Women in industrial and construction oriented trades are still not well represented.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government has undertaken some measures to increase women's representation including the "Jump Start NL" program offered to high school level students across the province, and the "Gender Equality and Diversity Plan". In the 2006-2007 school year, the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education launched the "Jump Start NL" program to show young women careers in construction and industrial based trades are exciting, challenging, and lucrative, while at the same time, demands creativity, precision, and skill. This program currently has a total of seven trades oriented subjects including at least two courses at level one or Grade 10, with more courses to be added within the next four years.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Government also implemented measures to ensure women and other disadvantaged persons have greater involvement in non-traditional trades including a Gender Equality and Diversity Plan in the Hebron Agreement. Through this plan, greater access to training and recruitment will be provided to women, visible minorities, disabled persons, aboriginals, and other under-represented segments.

With the oil and gas boom coming as a result of the Hebron deal numerous mega project across Newfoundland and Labrador, the Vale Inco Hydromet Plant to be built in Long Harbour, and other mega projects slated for Newfoundland and Labrador, skilled industrial and construction trades people from all population segments, including women, are going to be in greater demand giving greater hope for women pursuing this lucrative and rewarding career.