On Friday, April 12 participants in an Introduction to Trades program at College of the Rockies celebrated their graduation.  Shaylene Osborne, Darren Williams, Jesse Thomas and Ashley Casimer all successfully completed the 11-week program.

The training, a partnership between College of the Rockies and the British Columbia Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA) was part of BC AMTA’s mandate to recruit, assess and train Aboriginal candidates for careers in the mining sector.

Participants were given the opportunity to spend two weeks in each of five trades – Carpentry, Electrical, Heavy Duty/Automotive Mechanics, Welding and Millwright where they were able to benefit from practical knowledge and experience.  Students also received training in first aid, forklift operation, fall protection, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and Transportation of Dangerous Goods.

College of the Rockies’ Trades Department Head Kim Buchan says, “The program instructors were impressed with this group of students as they were very motivated and hard-working.  We hope that the exposure they received to the different trades programs the college offers will aid in their career path decisions.”

As indication of the success of the program, all four graduates are looking to continue their training in various Trades at College of the Rockies.

“Helping candidates to move forward in their lives and to achieve success is our goal.  We are so proud of these four individuals and all they have achieved,” noted BC AMTA Program Manager and Instructor Suzanne Pederson.

Above photo:  (l-r) BC AMTA Program Coordinator Robin Mann, Program Manager and Instructor Suzanne Pederson, students Darren Williams, Shaylene Osborne and Jesse Thomas and Program Coach Dale Pound celebrate the Introduction to Trades graduation at College of the Rockies.

COTR

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