SD73 students try out pipeline station at Heavy Metal Rocks on Friday (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Connor Gunn

HEAVY METAL ROCKS

Students try their hand at different machinery as Heavy Metal Rocks returns

Apr 8, 2022 | 4:26 PM

KAMLOOPS – After a two-year hiatus, the Heavy Metal Rocks program allows School District 73 students to try out different machinery they could be using in their trade. The program is also grooming the students to help fill a gap in the labour market.

In its 14th year, the program is expanding and students can try out the new pipeline station. Barriere Secondary School student Becky Bradley is one of 26 students participating in the program and she was able to test herself with a welding torch.

“He showed me the automatic MIG welder, which they use if the terrain allows it so it’s just a quick way for them to weld the two pipes together,” said Bradley.

Broden Lamarche is trying out the excavator, exploring a wide variety of career choices in the trades to see what piques his interest.

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“I think the program is a great opportunity for all the people that don’t get the chance to get out on equipment, there’s a whole bunch of different machines out here, a whole variety ranging from dozers, loaders, skid steers, everything big to small, we’ve got some log loaders and stuff out back but it’s a pretty good experience for everyone.”

Program Chair Ron Collins, says many of the students in the Heavy Metal Rocks program were selected due to their interest in possibly pursuing a trade.

“We have everything up here we have forestry and construction we had a geotechnical firm come up and do a presentation for them on Wednesday, they’ve been up to the CBSC weigh scales, they’ve had a tour of Peterbilt trucks, we’ve got Surerus Pipeline here so the students don’t really know what they want to do so it’s mainly to just give them a taste.”

Over 50 businesses sponsor the event, hoping it will add new workers to the trades sector that desperately needs employees. Collins says some local companies have over 100 positions that are empty.

“All of our sponsors are looking for workforce for themselves down the road we’ve got couple companies that I toured around last couple of days again wanting to come on board because they want to try and attract people to the industry,” said Collins.

Collins hopes companies can fill open positions and introduce the younger generation to trades.