On Nov. 1, Grade 6 students from all seven of the elementary schools in Thompson participated in the fifth-annual Trades & Technology Olympics. The event was sponsored by Skills Canada Manitoba in partnership with R.D. Parker Collegiate, Vale and the Northern Manitoba Sector Council. Hosted at the Thompson Regional Community Centre, this event aims to give students a hands-on experience in the field of trades and technology.
Groups of students went from station to station and either completed a task with direction from high school mentors or participated in an interactive display hosted by Vale guests. Students participated in activities including food services, automotive, carpentry, cosmetology, electronics, mechanics, industrial instrumentation, robotics, tailoring and clothing design, landscaping and engineering. Students from RDPC acted as mentors at the stations assisting the Grade 6 students with each task. Three mentors from Vale were also present at the event. Joanne Marchand is an industrial mechanic who works at the T1 Mine at Vale. She started as an apprentice in the smelter and became trade qualified in 2012. During her apprenticeship, she also worked in the refinery and the mill. Bridget Corriveau is a mine engineer in training. She took geological engineering at the University of Saskatchewan with a focus in mining. She moved to Thompson in March 2018 to start a position as a mine engineer in training at Vale’s T3 Mine. She is now the cut and fill and development planner which includes scheduling and managing all the cut and fill and development areas for Manitoba Operations. Robert Stillie is an industrial instrument mechanic TQ. Robert has been with Vale for over 10 years. He was hired at the smelter as a third year industrial instrument apprentice and has also worked at Birchtree Mine. Robert currently works in the utilities area in the compressor building.
According to event organizer Harlie Pruder, “For the past several years a significant number of Canada’s skilled workforce has been reaching the age of retirement which has created a shortage in the supply of skilled workers available. This means that there are lots of opportunities to have good-paying jobs in trades and technology. It’s important for students to know about the opportunities available to them during and after high school. Students can get a head start with the High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP) which allows students to start their apprenticeship while still in high school, and combines regular high school instruction with paid, part-time, on-the-job apprenticeship training.It’s important for students to know that after high school graduation, education options not only include university, but also college or vocational training, and apprenticeship programs. Events like the Trades & Technology Olympics get students thinking about future careers while having fun.”
Overall, the Trades & Technology Olympics was a great success with both students and teachers expressing appreciation for the opportunity to participate. Upcoming skills events for 2019 include Grade 7 Extreme Sledding, the Grade 8 Northern Skilled Trades & Technology Conferences in Thompson and The Pas, the Regional Skills Competition in The Pas and the Provincial Skills Competition in Winnipeg.
