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S a t u r d a y, d e c e m b e r 1 4 , 2 0 1 9
S a S k at o o n S ta r P h o e n i x
Trades & Technical Professions
Outstanding achievements celebrated at annual Apprenticeship Awards T h e S a s k at c h e w a n A p prenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) hosted its 19 th annual Apprenticeship Awards – referred to as the “Oscars of the skilled t ra d e s ” b y E m c e e L i s a 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 Ne w Jo u r n e y p e r s o n aw a r d s , 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 Jo u r n e y p e r s o n Aw a r d 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 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 Journe yperson Award for his trade and also secured a second award, the First Nations 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. THIS STORY WAS PROVIDED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN APPRENTICESHIP & TRADE CERTIFICATION COMMISSION FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
and Paul McLellan with Alliance Energy Ltd. In Regina picked up the second Outstanding Employer Award (More than 50 Employees). Te r r y Pe d e r s o n f r o m 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. Fo r m o r e i n f o r m a tion about the Apprenticeship Awards, or the skilled trades, visit www. saskapprenticeship.ca.
Natasha Hoff won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for her trade, and secured the Wendy Davis Memorial Scholarship. S ATCC
Jayden Roufosse won the Outstanding New Journeyperson Award for Welding, and also secured the First Nations and Métis Scholarship. S ATCC
“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 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 Aw a r d s i n c l u d e L e s t e r Thiessen, an agricultural equipment technician from Maryfield who won the Scholarship for Journeypersons with Disabilities; and Ilija Kolesnikow, a construction electri-
cian 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 pres e n t e d t o a v a r i e ty o f employers and organizations. SaskPower won the O u t s t a n d i n g Te c h n i c a l Training Team Award; Richard Urano from Sushi’s Plumbing and Heating in Swift Current won the Outstanding Employer Award (Fewer than 50 Employees);
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