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Revival of old Koksilah school site ideal Gaining training: Programs at booming trades centre present students with an abundance of job opportunities upon completion
Don Bodger
News Leader Pictorial
I
t’s been the perfect trade-off. When School District 79 announced in May 2013 that Koksilah Elementary School would be closed a month later, the future of the building didn’t stay in limbo for long. Vancouver Island University swooped in with an answer to help students train to meet future demands in the work force. “As soon as we found that out, we spoke to the school district about repurposing it as a trade centre,’’ said Keith Chicquen, instructional director for VIU’s Cowichan campus. “They thought it was an excellent idea. It saved the district money because they don’t have to maintain a school and so we signed a 10-year lease, VIU and the school district. Immediately, we started construction of a brandnew welding facility and classes started.’’ The transition from Koksilah Elementary to VIU’s Cowichan Trades Centre was quick and relatively painless. “We took possession of the property mid-July and classes started six weeks later so it was obviously a rush over last summer to get things in place,’’ said Chicquen. The welding shop wasn’t actually completed Don Bodger by September so some of the first students Hairdressing student Madison Sonne puts her craft into practice, above left. Erin Hollywood, above right, works his magic in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration actually helped with interior construction as program that landed him an immediate job in Calgary after completing the program. part of their program. “We had four programs start in September the two major industries employing welding we’ve made some critical investment in capital and we’ve had two programs since start in they’re still in high school. students. and equipment.’’ February (2014), bringing our total number of “And the school district will pay their tuition “The Coast Aboriginal Ship-Building AlMadison Sonne, 18, is a Queen Margaret’s students to about 100 this year,’’ Chicquen indi- fees so a pretty awesome, unique opportunity. liance is working closely with us and they’ve School grad doing the hairdressing program. cated. “Next year, we’re anticipating about 120 This is not available in many school districts been taking students down to the shipyards and “Because I went to Queen Margaret’s whenstudents on the site and we have throughout British Columbia.’’ Chicken Wrap Mealfuture plans helping them with resumes and job coaching ever there’s a dance, I did everyone’s hair,’’ she for growth in Grilled our programming Besides welding, classes started last Septemor Crispy areas.’’ to help them find work to the shipbuilding insaid. “It’s never dull.’’ The 36 initial welding students are predomiber for the combined attributes of heating, dustry which is just getting started. It’ll be a few The course, instructed by Gina Easton, has nantly Aboriginal “because we got government ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. years before it’s running full-scale in Victoria,’’ been very rewarding for Sonne. grant funding, specifically for Aboriginal weld- Carpentry and hairdressing classes were added said Chicquen. “This is kind of a passion of mine,’’ she ing,’’ said Chicquen. in February. “Our heating, ventilation, air conditioning, said. “I signed up for the welding program as Two sections of welding will be running in Job prospects for students in all those areas well, but they didn’t have a spot. I might come September, but open to all fee-payers. are great once they’ve completed the programs. refrigeration students, we have two classes, and we had a company come from Alberta recently, back.’’ “The fundamental premise of the partnership “We’ve got great buy-in from our local Sonne and the other hairdressing students is that many of the seats here will be available companies,’’ said Chicquen. “Many of the local specifically to hire our graduates. They hired c. Chicken Stripdistrict Meal students,’’ said Chicquen. five of our top students from the program and put what they learned into practise at a salon for school metal fabrication companies have hired our they come every year and do that because they adjacent to the classroom. “They will get priority seating as part of our students, either on work experience and that feel this is the strongest program in Western “It’s packed every time,’’ said Sonne. “We get dual credit program and partnership with has then turned into full-time employment for Canada. walk-ins. The community really seems to appreSchool District 79 so it’s a unique opportunity many of the students. Pacific Energy, a local “They were impressed with our new site ciate it’s free. We actually have a lot of people for students who are under the age of 19 to encompany, has hired five of our graduates or which is a little bit larger than the site that we that come through and they’re always satisfied.’’ roll and get a Level 1 — or in some cases even a soon-to-be-graduates.’’ Upgrade Deluxe Cheeseburge Cheeseburger Meal Q4 – OCTOBER – 2013 – CANADA had back at Cowichan Secondary School and more on page 3 Level 1 and Level 2 trades certification — while Liquifi ed natural gas and ship-building are your sundae to
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