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regina Leader-PoSt
Trades & Technical Professions Outstanding achievements celebrated at annual Apprenticeship Awards
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) hosted its 19th annual Apprenticeship Awards – referred to as the “Oscars of the skilled trades” by Emcee Lisa Peters, host of Talk of the Town on Access 7 TV – on Nov. 1 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. Nearly 400 guests, including more than 25 sponsors, attended to recognize the achievements of almost 60 award recipients. Thirty-two certified tradespeople walked across the stage to accept their Outstanding New Journeyperson awards, having achieved the highest marks on the journeyperson certification exams from July 1, 2018 until June 30, 2019. Natasha Hoff, a partsperson from Assiniboia, won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for her trade and also secured the Wendy Davis Memorial Scholarship as the woman who achieved the highest mark on the journeyperson certification exam in a predominately male trade. She got her start working at Young’s Equipment, the agricultural equipment dealership
Natasha Hoff won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for her trade, and secured the Wendy Davis Memorial Scholarship. S ATCC
in Assiniboia. “When I started at Young’s, I was the first woman who worked at (the) agricultural dealership ever. So I was teaching the farmers that yes, a girl can do it. Yes, I have the knowledge, and yes, I can help you as well as the guys can. I’m pretty excited about both of these awards.” Jayden Roufosse is a welder living in Saskatoon. Like Hoff, he won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for his trade and also secured a second award, the First Na-
tions and Métis Scholarship, which is awarded to the Indigenous journeyperson who achieved the highest mark on the journeyperson certification exam among all the trades. He decided to enter the skilled trades because he enjoys working with his hands. “It is rewarding to build something and see a completed project at the end of the day,” Roufosse said. “The days go by quickly when you are working with your hands and
Jayden Roufosse won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for Welding, and also secured the First Nations and Métis Scholarship. SAT CC
moving around all day.” His advice to other apprentices? “You have to show up for school and work every day, and not be afraid to ask questions.” Some of the other new journeypersons celebrated at the Apprenticeship Awards include Lester Thiessen, an agricultural equipment technician from Maryfield who won the Scholarship for Journeypersons with Disabilities; and Ilija Kolesnikow, a construction electrician from Saskatoon who won the George
Pellerin Memorial Scholarship for achieving the highest mark on the journeyperson certification exam among all the trades. As winners accepted their awards, Peters kept guests entertained by changing hats throughout the ceremony, rather than outfits. Awards were also presented to a variety of employers and organizations. SaskPower won the Outstanding Technical Training Team Award; Richard Urano from Sushi’s Plumbing and Heat-
ing in Swift Current won the Outstanding Employer Award (Fewer than 50 Employees); and Paul McLellan with Alliance Energy Ltd. In Regina picked up the second Outstanding Employer Award (More than 50 Employees). Terr y Pederson from Neuanlage received the Artisan Award – a lifetime achievement award – for his commitment to the machinist trade and his work on the Machinist Trade Examining Board. Ten industry partners also seized the opportunity to present awards on behalf of their organizations. The Oscars of the skilled trades are over for another year and all journeypersons who achieve the highest marks on their certification exams in the coming year — July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 — will be invited to the 20th annual Apprenticeship Awards held October 2020, so think about what hat to wear. For more information about the Apprenticeship Awards, or the skilled trades, visit www.saskapprenticeship.ca.
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 on-the-job work experience. Students who complete the program and register as apprentices within five years of graduation receive 300 trade time hours; plus, their apprenticeship registration fee and their Level 1 technical training tuition is waived. Nishell Selinger, 21, is a Level 3 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 THeSe STORieS WeRe PROViDeD BY THe SASKATCHeWAN APPReNTiCeSHiP & TRADe CeRTiFiCATiON COMMiSSiON FOR COMMeRCiAL PURPOSeS.
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 2017 apprentice and employer satisfaction surveys, more than 90 per cent of apprentices who are also SYA graduates agreed the program’s challenges were useful in preparing them to become apprentices and more than 75 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.” Goertzen, 29, described completing his apprenticeship and achieving journeyperson certification in 2015 as “one of the best accomplishments in
“Don’t worry about being a woman in a male-dominated trade. Have the courage to go against the grain.” - NISHELL
INDUSTRIAL MECHANIC (MILLWRIGHT)
(his) life.” The SYA program has experienced significant growth over the last year. As of June 30, 2019, more than 3,300 students were registered in the program, an increase of 30 per cent over 2017-18; the number of schools registered increased
by almost three per cent and the number of SYA graduates entering into apprenticeship increased by five per cent. “Our SYA team is proud of the growth we’ve accomplished over the last year,” said Blankestijn. “And we look forward to promoting appren-
ticeship, the skilled trades and SYA to many teachers, students and parents in the new year.” For more information about SYA, visit saskapprenticeship. ca/youth_apprentices or call the Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator at 306-787-2368.
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