'We're at a lull but it will come back'
Kimberlite centre teaches future tradespeople
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Eighteen-year-old Conlan McKee was busy perfecting his carpentry skills at the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre on Feb. 2 working on a wine-bottle box at a time when demand for skilled workers is expected to grow.
Autistic St. Patrick High School student Conlan McKee, 18, works on a wine-bottle box at the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre on Wednesday. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo |
"He has really perfected the use of the jigsaw now," said classroom assistant Charlotte Curtis, referring to the young man who has spent three years with the program so far. With Curtis' help, he's built bird houses, Christmas decorations and other wooden marvels.
McKee represents one of 4,700 seats filled in various fields of study including carpentry, hairstyling, welding, small engine repair and robotics during the 11 years the centre has been in operation according to a presentation from the program co-ordinator.
Larry Connolly told the Yellowknife Catholic Schools board on Jan. 14 that McKee and students like him are learning at a time when the territory desperately needs to address a projected lack of skilled workers.
"Just in the mining sector alone," he said. "In 2014, there was a shortage of 155 skilled workers. They're projecting in 2019 that will be 390. By
2024, it will be 965."
The students train under four red-seal journeymen - a qualification which takes between three and six years to obtain and qualifies the recipient to work in their trade in all provinces and territories.
Connolly said the centre exposes students to the trades starting with an introductory Grade 8 course.
"One of the things I see is education caters to academic students who are going to go on to college or university," said Connolly. "That's not reflective of real life. A portion of them will go on to do skilled trades."
He said the future labour crisis for the mining sector prompted mining operations to contribute substantially to the centre's construction in 2003. He added De Beers Canada contributed $500,000 to the project, he said.
Kimberlite students have done well, said Connolly, pointing to Torin Dowe who won silver at the 2014 Skills Canada National Competition in the welding category.
Connolly said there are some misconceptions, however. The idea that trades allow students to bypass post-secondary education isn't necessarily true, said Connolly.
"Trades is not something you can go directly into. You still have to get a post-secondary (education)," said Connolly.
But there are advantages. Connolly said it's easy to find part-time work in a trades field while attending classes and after graduation.
The demand for skilled workers is high, he said.
"The demand will always be there," he said, adding current economic doldrums are bound to turn around. "We're at a lull but it will come back."
