R.F. Staples and St. Mary School students gathered April 14 to get a glimpse of life in the trades.
More than 100 teens flooded the CATS theatre and R.F. Staples’ main gym to explore career options from more than 25 companies from around the province and Westlock area.
The show was jointly hosted by both school’s and St. Mary vice-principal Vance Nakonechny said that, more than anything, the night was a chance for students to explore career options with their parents and potential employers.
“The purpose for this evening is to gain information,” Nakonechny said. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was in your position and from there it doesn’t feel that long before you have to go somewhere, or be something.”
Trades options for students can be just as diverse and interesting as any post-secondary program, said Westlock Hair Inn owner Rhonda Esau.
“It’s about getting kids into an industry where they can start work right away and not spend tons of time in school,” she said. “It’s great. I’ve had lots of kids from in town that I’ve known who have to come to apprentice with us.”
Guest speaker and Wabash Manufacturing general manager Dave Mortensen added there are many benefits to pursuing a career in the trades, including mobility and pay.
“Trades aren’t the end of the line, they’re the start,” he said. “There’s upgrading and you can wander. The trades can get you into just about any supervisory or management position that you can imagine and the pay can be ridiculous.
“It’s not menial, it’s meaningful,” he added.
Mortensen is a welder by trade and got his start at Wabash after attending R.F. Staples.
Although his own career path, as he described it, was meandering, he took the time to applaud students in attendance for getting an early jump.
“It’s a gift for people that know the direction they want to go in life when they’re young. I got my start right here at R.F.,” he said.
“I had big dreams, big ambition, and a huge imagination. I found a trade where I could use that imagination and use my skills to create and repair and do all kinds of things. Welding, for me, was the ticket.”
Even students wanting to move on to jobs that require post-secondary training, he added, can benefit from a start in the trades.
“When I want to hire a technologists, finding out that they have a practical background is a big bonus.”
R.F. Staples Grade 8 student Max Benham described the fair as a good chance to learn more about careers around Westlock and to develop his own personal interest.
“I’m mainly interested in mechanical engineering because I really like working with engines and stuff like that,” Benham said. “The idea of being able to stick in one spot is also appealing.”
Grade 9 student Brayden Bachmier agreed that local job opportunities were a good way to get involved with the Westlock community while keeping up with his own personal interest in metalworking.
“I like welding and do a lot of custom projects. I’ve been basically just starting with the basics and kind of advanced on my own,” Bachmier said.
“It’s good to be aware of the opportunities, something that’s local where you don’t have to go far to check things out.”
