Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

SCHOOL DISTRICT #73

Logan Lake pleased with opportunity to host Skilled Trades Mobile Training Unit

Feb 3, 2023 | 4:30 PM

LOGAN LAKE, B.C. — Contained in a trailer is the SD73 Skilled Trades Mobile Training Unit (MTU). It contains 12 spots for Logan Lake Secondary School students who are double dipping — earning credit towards a high school diploma and an apprenticeship in welding.

“The MTU’s initial goal was to retrain forestry workers who had been displaced due to the pine beetle kill that deeply impacted the B.C. Interior’s forest industry,” Ron Collins, Logan Lake principal, explains. “Since that time, it has trained hundreds of secondary students and adults in rural communities all over our province.”

On Friday, the community came together for a grand opening of the facility, that included a unique ribbon cutting.

For Logan Lake Mayor Robin Smith, hosting the MTU is a great opportunity for the 12 youth who are taking part in the training.

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“Especially being in a remote community and knowing that, a lot of times, you have to travel for schooling,” Smith says. “It’s incredible that they can bring that to us.”

The welding program gives students the opportunity to earn credits towards both secondary school and apprenticeships. Once they’re done, they’ll have two levels of certification in the trade, which means they can step right into a career opportunity.

“With my Dad being a heavy-duty mechanic and everything, I’ve just grown up around it,” Grade 12 student Summer Fox says. “I find it a lot more interesting than a desk job. I like being a lot more hands-on with my work.”

“When I was younger, I wanted to be an astronaut, like most kids. Then it was the NHL,” Alex Paterson, a Grade 11 student, says. “And then there were trades, like, talks of trades in school. I learned about them, and I was like, hey that’s pretty sweet. You can make some good money, too.”

“I think I’ve got a job already, for when I’m done,” Landon Taylor, another Grade 11 student, says. “Once I finish the welding [program] I can start working right out of high school.”

For Summer Fox, the skills she’ll learn here will build a foundation for her future, even if she decides her career lies down another path.

“If I want to continue pursuing welding, I can just go to school.,” Fox says. “If not, I still have my tickets and I can change careers if I want to. It just seemed like a very good opportunity.”