A handful of welding students at TRU are finishing off their projects at the university this week (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

TRU TRADES

TRU School of Trades adjusting to COVID-19, eyeing re-opening date in summer

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KAMLOOPS — While most classrooms at TRU are empty as students switch to online learning, there is one class still operating. Welding students have been able to finish off their coursework in a space that keeps them safe.

“It’s pretty exciting. I’m really happy to get it done,” said welding student Brooke Turko. “I feel bad for all the other trades, all the other students that don’t get to finish.”

Fellow welding student Jeremy Sale added, “Super duper fortunate if I’m being honest. Not only do I not have to stay home, but I get to do what I really love and have fun while doing it.”

“Been actually pretty lucky to come in and do it,” noted welding student Aaron Leontowich. “Otherwise, we would’ve had to come back after all this is done or next year, then trying to get time off work.”

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It gives these few students a leg up over everyone else, allowing them to get their certifications sooner.

“I’ll be back to work right away,” noted Turko. “I’ll be finishing my school, getting my Red Seal, whereas I think other trades are probably postponed on that.”

The global pandemic ended all in-person classes at Thompson Rivers University last month. Dean at the School of Trades and Technology Baldev Pooni says all hands-on activities have been postponed with coursework being done online.

He says, however, there are circumstances where the university can pass students who have done most of their work.

“With the direction from the Industry Training Authority that looks after apprentices and their funding in the province, they gave us the guideline that if a program is 70 per cent complete or more that we take a look at graduating the students out,” noted Pooni.

The hallways of the trades building are quiet when they would be bustling with hundreds of students all year round. But the school now has a tentative timeline on returning to in-person learning: June 29.

“In the case of trades, where we really need practical, face-to-face classes, we picked a day in late June that we could have some confidence that this situation will be over or close to over,” said Pooni.

The school will monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed. In the meantime, the welding students all feel safe with their own space to finish off the semester.