By Adam Eisenbarth
The trades program at Rimbey Junior/Senior High School gives many students a boost toward their future careers.
On June 16, it was the program itself that got a boost.
The Petroleum Services Association of Canada donated $1,000 to the school for the program that helps students get a head start in the trades.
“Trades in the school are kind of an anchor in one sense for kids so that they can really get some hands on, in their face experience,” says metals shop teacher Gary Hiebert.
“I really feel that it is a complementary set of courses. The trades are extremely important at our school.”
Principal Tim Lekas says the program is important in accommodating the students.
“There’s certainly a proportion of students that come to school just because we have the shops and they want to work in the shops and go on to pursue a trade. There is a percentage of students we could not serve if we did not have those.”
Lori Enzie, health safety environment manager of Stinger Wellhead Protection, presented the cheque on behalf of the association and says it’s important to encourage these programs to grow.
“By giving grants to the Rimbey school, we’re hoping the school will educate more kids that maybe the petroleum industry is the way to go.”
Students often feel pressure to decide their future in high school and Hiebert believes the program is a nice help in the decision making process.
“Kids change their minds very quickly and if we’re ready for them and have the trades programs in place, then they can see that it’s the here and the now, it’s right in front of them.”
The school doesn’t just offer a chance to give different jobs a try, it helps in taking students towards their goals with the Registered Apprenitceship Program, says Lekas.
“They can start it while in high school. The hours that they work while they’re in high school work towards their first year apprenticeship hours. We want to get them started if that’s where they want to go.”
A decision has already been made as to the use of the grant. The school will purchase an arc welding double reel, with 100 feet of cable.
“This welder and the reel and so on will allow us to use this particular piece of equipment for 25 years,” said Lekas.
The reel is important in keeping the students from being restricted with their work.
“As the program expands and the kids are making larger and more significant projects, they need the ability to actually get outside with these welder cables and this reel allows them to do it.”
Enzie says the community is fortunate to have such a strong program at their high school. “The program here is phenomenal. It gives the kids a jump start, a little bit of a boost.”