At the beginning of the last semester, 32 students – most from the South Okanagan – began a six-month training course in welding. (Photo supplied)
The sky is the limit for young people who are looking to pursue a career in the trades, says the Dean of Trades and Apprenticeships at Okanagan College in Penticton.
At the beginning of the last semester back in February, another 32 students – the majority of them from the South Okanagan – began a six-month training course in the Welding Foundations Program at the college.
This is the maximum amount of students that college can process in this course during a six-month semester and the waiting list to get accepted is long, said Moores.
“It’s a very exciting time to be involved in the trades,” said Moores, who obtained his tool and dye training and certification in the England and taught at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) for 23 years before moving to Penticton just over one year ago to accept this new position.
These new classes of welding students being taught by Okanagan College will help address employer and student demand for the trade, said Moores.
The college heard from employers in Penticton and across the South Okanagan for the past several years about the serious shortage of skilled welders and has dramatically increased the frequency and number of students being accepted into various programs, said Moores.
“The focus is on the high demand trades, those being welding, electrical and heavy duty mechanic,” he said. “Welding is one of the trades where there is a serious need by employers and we’ve had long waiting lists to get into our welding program for many years.”
Okanagan College campuses in Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm have had amazing success since the Welding Foundation Program was established eight years ago with incredible demand and extensive waiting lists at all three campuses over the past several years, he said.
A total of 16 students were accepted last week for two intakes, adding 32 welders to the more than 110 the college has already taught in Penticton, since it started offering welding in 2007.
Penticton Fabricating President Brad Harder is among those industry representatives who see the need for welding programs in Penticton. Right now, he has about 17 welders working for him – many have come from the Okanagan College programs.
“One of the major hurdles that we face is access to training for welders,” says Harder, who also sits on the College’s Program Advisory Committee for welding. “I know of several people who would like to become welders but are not able to leave Penticton to get the required training. It’s why news of these two classes is very welcome.”
Even if falling oil prices has dimmed oil patch prospects, there is still demand for welders, said Moores.
“Whether it is ship-building, fabricating, or manufacturing, there is intense employer demand for welders,” he notes. “All you have to do is look at the demographics of the trades to see there is a silver tsunami of retirements on the horizon.”
The reality is if you graduate with a trades certification from a respected college like Okanagan College, there’s a very good chance you’re going to find a good-paying and rewarding job right away, said Moores.
“Some students may not be able to find a position in the location that they would like, but there are jobs out there and most will find work rather quickly,” he said. “The thing about a trade is it’s transferable and you can use your skills anywhere in the world.”
Because of the outstanding reputation of the trades programs at Okanagan College, students might have to wait a few months to be accepted due to the high demand and long waiting lists, he said.
“We have a mixture of students from Penticton and across the South Okanagan to kids coming in from across the province and even a few who apply from outside of the province,” he said. “I would guess that about 30 to 40 per cent of our trades students are from outside the region.”
There used to be a time not so long ago when pursuing a career in the trades wasn’t considered cool or was frowned upon by those seeking higher education, but those days are all but gone, said Moores.
“I look at my life and I can tell you that my career in the trades has allowed me to travel the world, teach around the world and share my passion for helping young people,” he said. “I might be biased, but I believe pursuing a career in the trades will be the best decision you will ever make.”
A student today pursuing a welding or electrician’s certificate not only has to be smart, but also has to be savvy with complicated technology and the latest trends in the respective industries, said Moores.
“You constantly have to upgrade your skills or you will get left behind,” he said. “It’s rewarding work, the pay is great and there’s lots of work out there.”
Other trades programs being offered at Okanagan College include refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, plumbing, residential construction, women in trades, gateway to the trades and electrical.
There is also a new three-year diploma program in Sustainable Construction Management Technology, a program that is unique in British Columbia, he said.
Filling the classes isn’t a problem, says Moores.
“We’re already there, but we are anticipating more classes in the future, so if anyone is interested, they ought to visit our website and apply as new sections become available,” he said.
For more information about programs being offered by the College in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, you can visit the campus’s webpage at www.okanagan.bc.ca/penticton.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
