Local students exposed to several trades through dual-credit program

By BRENDAN MILLER on November 13, 2024.

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

A new apprenticeship program is exposing local students to several different trade jobs with a unique approach by providing an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in several skilled jobs in one dual-credit program.

The three-year program, called ‘Introduction to the Trades,’ is held at the Medicine Hat College and provides 16 apprenticeship students from Grades 10-12 from the local public school division, as well as eight from Grasslands Public, and introduces students to seven different trades during the first year of the program.

On campus each month students receive hands-on experience provided by college instructors on a specific trade, including mechanic, electrician, welder or steamfitter/pipefitter, allowing students to discover and learn a number of aspects in several in-demand job fields, utilizing the college’s educational resources and classrooms.

During the second year of the program students narrow their lens and pick two trades to focus on that share transferable skills. In the third year, students will hone skills on a single trade.

As well, students earn credits they can use for both high school and apprenticeship courses.

Grade 12 Medicine Hat High School student Lacie McCaskill says she has always enjoyed working with vehicles and was encouraged by her automotive teacher to take part in the new dual-credit program that has helped sparked a new interest in welding.

“It’s definitely a very, very good experience to have,” says McCaskill. “Just kind of puts into perspective of what the day-to-day would be like for each job, and I mean, it honestly built my love for the trades more than I have already had an interest in.”

Although automotives still ranks top of the list for McCaskill, she says the program is providing an opportunity to discover new high-demand skills that will provide more employment opportunities in the future, and she is now considering a career path that incorporates a variety of skill sets.

“For welding, I like seeing that I built something, it kind of feels good deep down,” McCaskill said enthusiastically while describing her fulfillment in completing a task.

“I don’t know, it just feels good, and especially being a woman in, like, a man’s kind of trade world, it feels awesome to be able to do what a man can do, if not better,” laughs McCaskill.

A future career path for Grade 11 Crescent Heights High School student Dane Kledatz could involve welding.

“Definitely welding, I’ve welded before but was never really, you know, super big into it,” says Kledatz. “But hopefully I’ll enjoy this and, you know, that could be a future career.”

He says the hands-on experience provided through the dual-credit program is far more effective than other learning sources, including online tutorial videos.

“It’s been great getting hands-on experience because you just don’t really get that in a lot of places. You can learn anything online, but this is real hands-on stuff that anybody can learn.

“It’s really great, you get hands-on experience, you get high school credits and college credits. I mean, it’s a really great opportunity and great experience.”

The high-demand program received more than 150 applications this summer after the public school division made it available to students participating in the Registered Apprenticeship Program.

According to school officials, students who participate in all three years of the dual-credit program have a 70 per cent chance of graduating from Medicine Hat College with the skills needed to pursue an in-demand job.

“So, anytime we can get kids connected to the college, they’re likely to attend,” says Kelly Pitman, MHPSD off-campus education co-ordinator. “Even if a student doesn’t go into the trades, they’re going to have a set of skills that they can use in life.”

Pitman clarified that students in Grade 11 and 12 will be supported through their second and third year of the ‘Introduction to the Trades’ program if they wish to continue. Next year the division plans to continue the program by offering it to a new batch of students.

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