Nailing Down Their Future

By 250 News

Jessica Keehn nails a board in place, as  fellow student Terry Lock helps out

Trades, the demand is high, the future bright. Sprott-Shaw College has designed a program to help  meet the growing demand with the launching of a construction trades centre in Prince George.  The first stage  offers the first steps towards a carepnetry apprenticeship.

"They come here as individuals and become family " says framing instructor Steve Kerswell.  The program is about 6 months with students putting in 5 hours a day five days a week.  At the end of the program, Sprott-Shaw indentures the students with the  Apprentice  program and follows them through.

RIght now, the program has 30 students with another 5 expected to arrive in a few days.  The program has students  design, frame, insulate, and drywall the projects they undertake, which at the moment involves  building their own classroom at the Parkhill Centre Campus. (shown at right)

"I love it when  they make mistakes" says Kerswell "Everone learns better by making mistakes, and if the project looks perfect, sometimes I  will get in there and do something wrong, just to make sure they know how to fix the problem."

Students select their building teams from choosing who will be the foreman to who will be the first aid attendant.

The trades program at Sprott-Shaw isn't  going to be limited to carpentry, "The next step will be expansion to an electrical program" says College Director Alan Timberlake, "We have set aside 25 seats for that program, and then , depending on demand, we will make a move to add plumbing."

For student Jessica Keehn, (at left)  the program means a future "It means I will be able to get a great job with great pay, I hope more women will take up the trades."

The students have built two small structures,  and when the small buildings are finished, (complete with  roofing and siding) they will donate one to a  needy family for  use as a garden shed, or kids playhouse. 

The second one will be auctioned off and all proceeds will be given to a charity of the students choice.

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