Power Engineering Class 4 Training To Be Available in Quesnel

Monday, August 31, 2009 02:05 PM

Quesnel, B.C.- School District 28 and the College of New Caledonia (CNC) will bring new trades training to Quesnel for displaced forest workers, thanks to a $110,000 partnership with the Community Development Trust's Tuition Assistance Program.

The funding will be used to provide Power Engineering Class 4 training and certification for adult students, expanding the College of New Caledonia Phase II Trades and Technology Programming.

The certification requires 10 months of education and practical steam boiler 'firing time'. It will open up employment for successful students in both the private and public sectors. Opportunities for employment exist within the forestry, oil and gas, and bio-energy sectors, as well as in commercial settings where steam boilers are used as heat sources for large buildings.

"CNC's Quesnel campus has become a hub for trades training in the Cariboo region," said John Bowman, CNC president. "This funding will complement the
existing trades programs and allow displaced forest workers to create more
secure futures."

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Monday, August 31, 2009 02:05 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: gus on August 31 2009 7:56 PM

Steam, eh?

I remember when the College itself switched from steam to hot water in the mid 1970's to reduce labour and maintenance costs. Around here, large industrial plants might be the only ones still working with steam boilers and distribution systems.

But, the old tradespeople must all be retiring by now and there likely has been little thought given to replacement.

It will be interesting to see how many replacements the industry will need in the next decade. I would think that the education and training would actually cover both systems. Does anyone know?

Posted by: daisybee on August 31 2009 8:07 PM

The program does offer training on both systems. My husband took the course at the PG Campus.

Posted by: detoe43 on September 1 2009 12:14 AM

To operate a hot water system a 5th class
ticket is usually all that is required
for all but the largest plants.
There is alot of activity in the Power
Engineering field, older workers are replaced at the 4th & 3rd Class levels as
there isn't much of a shortage of those tickets. It's the 2nd & 1st Class operators
that there is a shortage of.
The scope of Power Engineering has
expanded to cover much more than just steam
applications, hence the designation of
Power Engineer not Steam Engineer. As any PE will tell you, the education & most jobs entail the operator to become well versed in a variety of trade discplines including Millwrighting,Electrcal, Welding & Instumentation.