Victoria, BC – Saanich School District No. 63’s Continuing Education School’s new Skills Training Apprenticeship Carpentry (STAC) program has received $10,000 via the Construction Foundation of BC’s Skills Ready initiative. This grant made possible by a grant from The Home Depot Canada Foundation will be used to support the initiative that will have students learning the basics of constructing a wood frame structure from the bare ground to the roof top including a strong focus on sustainability.
Students spend three days a week learning about carpentry as they build a tiny house and then take their skills to industry on Thursdays and Fridays where they get to experience life on a real worksite. Over the course of the program, students obtain a number of industry certifications such as First Aid, Fall Arrest, and Confined Space, among others.
“Our mission is to help build the next generation of skilled worker,” shared Abigail Fulton, executive director of the Construction foundation of BC. “Building this tiny house will enable students to not only learn new skills and apply them, but also engage in a project that focuses on sustainability – for the environment, for the community and for industry.”
At the end of the five-month pilot, students transition into Camosun College for July and August where they will participate in a Level 1 Apprenticeship Program – earning dual credit course credits that count toward their high school, college transcripts and eventual trade certification. Upon completion of Level 1 at Camosun, they will return to industry full time with their employers.
“Equipping students with the appropriate technical skills and simultaneously providing them with an opportunity to gain relevant work experience will provide the perfect recipe for success,” shared Wendy Walker, principal of SD63 Continuing Education. “Positioning our program ahead of the intensive, traditional apprenticeship class gives students a longer runway so they can build confidence in their abilities and better relate theoretical concepts to tangible learning experiences on actual construction sites.”
Stay tuned for updates on the Tiny Home and its future home!
Published April 30, 2019: