High school students from across the region got a glimpse of what it could be like to have a career in the trades.
On Wednesday, June 6, Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) hosted their inaugural First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) Trades Carnival. Close to 200 students from across the division, along with Frog Lake and St. Paul, were invited out to the Trades Exposure Centre in Bonnyville for a day of hands-on learning and career prospecting.
“We had two post-secondary schools, as well as 11 industry partners and our own service rig program. Youth were able to come and access that information, and plan ahead to maybe what they want to try to do in the future as a possible career. It's something they can do here in their own backyard,” explained NLPS dual credit coordinator Mark Centazzo.
Everything from welding, to safety services, to hair styling courses were on display to spark students' interest in the trades. Local companies had booths set up with interactive activities and information for groups to rotate through. Industry representatives were more than happy to answer any questions students had about their job.
“I think it's awesome. I brought as many kids as I could because my students prefer hands-on learning. It's good to see them interact with industry providers that can answer their questions,” said Elliott Bessey, principal of the NLPS outreach program.
He added, “To make that connection from classroom learning to real-life learning, and to have that ability to have another adult answer their questions. Teachers and principals will tell them stuff, but to have someone in the industry telling them 'hey, you need to get an education or you need to do this,' it's much more powerful learning for them.”
Bonnyville Centralized High School principal Corey Baker has seen first-hand the impact that hands-on, experiential learning can have on his students through the current NLPS service rig program. So far, Baker said they've had close to 100 students benefit from the program.
“Some days I have a tough time getting kids to be excited about math or social studies, but when kids come up to this centre they're excited about this topic. You'd think I'd have a hard time getting a teenager here at 8 o'clock in the morning to work on the rig, because I have a hard time getting them to school at 8:45 in the morning, but they beat me here.”
Seeing just how excited it has made students about their learning, he jumped at the opportunity to expose more of the youth in his school to the trades.
“The Trades Carnival is what this whole Trades Exposure Centre is all about. It's giving a chance for kids to learn about all of these different trades. What they learn here today will directly impact how they pursue their education,” Baker expressed.
J.A. Williams High School career coordinator Lisa Dribnenki agreed the event was an important tool for students to learn about the options available to them.
“In terms of career planning, having exposure and trying different things is so valuable to them. It's just like buying a car, you wouldn't buy a car unless you tried it out. This is a good opportunity for them to be exposed to more than what they might see or know what's available.”
With a goal of helping all students to be successful, the Trades Carnival was another way for NLPS to open up a new world of learning for youth that might not do so well in a traditional classroom setting. While there was a focus on FNMI students, the event was open to all high school students who would benefit from exposure to the trades.
“Kids need to know that learning goes beyond the traditional classroom. At Northern Lights, we're trying to create those opportunities, this being one of them,” said board chair Arlene Hrynyk. “Kids need to know that we're trying to meet them where they're at, and show them that there are other opportunities out there that they may not have thought of or considered.”
The months of planning that went into creating the first Trades Carnival wasn't lost on students, who thoroughly enjoyed their day away from the classroom.
“The Trades Carnival was actually pretty exciting and motivating to get us young kids into the trades,” said Bonnyville Outreach student Martin Hassan, who noted he is considering the trades as a career path.
Cold Lake Outreach student Isaac Carhart is hoping to pursue welding, and was pleased to get the chance to see what else is available.
“It's a good event to have so kids get to experience what trades are out there. It's like my parents said, they're going to push me away from the oilfield to find a different trade. I came here to see what other trade I could get into.”
Fellow Cold Lake Outreach student Whitefeather Memnook added, “It's great to show people what's out there. You're not only limited to one job, you can go and try out new things and see what fits you.”
“I honestly think the Trades Carnival is an amazing thing. It's really an eye-opener with all of these different places you can go and all of the different jobs that you witness,” said Sam Kemplay, a student at Cold Lake High School.
The students may have been the benefactors of the day, but industry representatives who took the time to share their skills and knowledge were equally impressed.
“Honestly, I'm blown away. I think it's an exceptional event. I wish they had something like this when I was growing up,” said Mark Larocque, general manager at Seven Lakes Oilfield Services, one of the companies with a booth at the Trades Carnival.
“At Seven Lakes we recognize that the youth are the future, and the future of the workforce. It's important to us that we don't forget about them and do our part to give them these opportunities to get a small snapshot of what it's like in the workforce.”
For those companies in attendance, it allowed them to show students, and prospective future employees, what the trades has to offer and the benefits of starting their training early-on.
“I think there's no doubt that what we have to do is put the polish and appeal back into technical trade employment. Some of the best jobs in the province, you'll go through the trades and get your skill sets there, but we have discouraged that in classic academic settings. This is an opportunity to profile the trades and put these students, programs, and the schools up on a pedestal,” expressed Jeff Mulligan, chief operating officer of Aztec Safety's Lloydminster office.
With students, staff, and industry alike praising the first NLPS Trades Carnival, division officials expressed they're looking forward to growing on that success and will be in discussions about potentially turning it into an annual occurrence.
Fellow Cold Lake Outreach student Whitefeather Memnook added, “It’s great to show people what’s out there. You’re not only limited to one job, you can go and try out new things and see what fits you.”
“I honestly think the Trades Carnival is an amazing thing. It’s really an eye-opener with all of these different places you can go and all of the different jobs that you witness,” said Sam Kemplay, a student at Cold Lake High School.
The students may have been the benefactors of the day, but industry representatives who took the time to share their skills and knowledge were equally impressed.
“Honestly, I’m blown away. I think it’s an exceptional event. I wish they had something like this when I was growing up,” said Mark Larocque, general manager at Seven Lakes Oilfield Services, one of the companies with a booth at the Trades Carnival.
“At Seven Lakes we recognize that the youth are the future, and the future of the workforce. It’s important to us that we don’t forget about them and do our part to give them these opportunities to get a small snapshot of what it’s like in the workforce.”
For those companies in attendance, it allowed them to show students, and prospective future employees, what the trades has to offer and the benefits of starting their training early-on.
“I think there’s no doubt that what we have to do is put the polish and appeal back into technical trade employment. Some of the best jobs in the province, you’ll go through the trades and get your skill sets there, but we have discouraged that in classic academic settings. This is an opportunity to profile the trades and put these students, programs, and the schools up on a pedestal,” expressed Jeff Mulligan, chief operating officer of Aztec Safety’s Lloydminster office.
With students, staff, and industry alike praising the first NLPS Trades Carnival, division officials expressed they’re looking forward to growing on that success and will be in discussions about potentially turning it into an annual occurrence.
