Medicine Hat College is celebrating current and future trades students while the province encourages high school students to learn more about available paid apprenticeship programs.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Medicine Hat College kicked off ‘Trades Appreciation Day’ celebrations early with a barbecue for trades students, faculty and partners as well as high school students who were on campus to receive an introduction to seven apprenticeship programs Sept. 20.
A new collaborative partnership between the college, Medicine Hat Public School Division and Grasslands Schools offers high school students insights into apprenticeship programs offered through the School of Trades and Technology that include carpentry, heavy equipment technician and plumbing and gasfitting.
Plumbing and gasfitting program instructor Rob Stroh says the new collaboration provides students from local high schools more exposure to opportunities available within the trades workforce.
“I’m really pleased to have these students on campus, they bring a lot of enthusiasm.” says Stroh, who has taught the program for 17 years. “We have a really good team, we have great programs and turn out quality tradespeople. That’s why I’m still here.”
Provincially the fourth Monday of each September is recognized as Trades Apprenticeship Day to recognize the value of apprenticeship education and skilled trades workers.
A statement issued by Rajan Sawhney, minister of advanced education, says the province is encouraging more students to consider a career in skilled trades through appearance programs that offer pay.
“Apprentices develop the skills to not only succeed in today’s job market, but also to advance the lead, seizing new opportunities as industries evolve,” said Sawhney. “They also earn a paycheque while they learn and they graduate with a career already established.”
