CAREERS : THE NEXT GENERATION
Dan Olesen , Field Director , CAREERS : The Next Generation
CAREERS : The Next Generation is a studentfocused industry , government and community partnership committed to enabling youth on their path to rewarding careers . Since 1997 , more than 24,000 students have connected learning to earning through paid internships with the support of CA- REERS and the Registered Apprenticeship Program ( RAP ).
In my role as a field director for CAREERS in Calgary , I connect high school students and employers to help students develop necessary skills in the trades and industrial technologies . Through our link with the Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Alberta ( SMCAA ), students are able to explore a career as a sheet metal worker by participating in RAP . Linking high school students with the sheet metal industry , students can earn credits toward high school courses , logging 1,000 hours of on-the-job training while still in school .
CAREERS and SMCAA hosted the first sheet metal showcases in Calgary and Edmonton in 2014 . Students and their parents toured a shop and spoke with instructors , journeymen and industry leaders and to learn about the job requirements , explore career opportunities and training . More than 31 students went on to explore sheet metal careers through a RAP internship ( an increase from only seven in 2013 ). The event has grown into an annual event , and we look forward to our third showcase in 2016 .
In May 2015 , Draven M ., a female student from Bishop Grandin High School , was initially interested in welding , and attended the SMCAA showcase to explore options . Changing interests , she started as a RAP sheet metal intern in July 2015 . She admits that her first day as a sheet metal worker was hard , but “ I have learned so much about construction and the importance of PPE on the work site ,” she says . She is proud of her position and she couldn ’ t be happier , working as hard as she can to be an efficient and safe worker . Teachers have commented on the growth of these students both in and out of the classroom , saying the students are emerging with an enthusiasm , confidence and determination they have never seen before . Employers agreed that the events made it easier and more fun to participate – recognizing that they are not just supporting youth career development , but they are also supporting their industry .
To better prepare Alberta for the road ahead , we have to show students a future worth working for . The sheet metal industry is still too unfamiliar to students , parents and teachers . SMCAA and CA- REERS are working together to “ heat things up ” to attract , engage and retain the next generation of local talent , and to promote the industry as a viable career choice for new generations . ❖
SMCAA • Sheet Metal Works 9