Apprenticeship Manitoba

04 - a p p r e N T i c e s h i p h i g h e s T a c h i e v e m e N T a w a r d s 2 0 1 4 " Apprenticeship Manitoba highesT achievemeNT awards 2014 kriStal FeHr ESTHETIcIaN - NaIL, kRISTaL NaILS Fehr sTudied aT The europeaN school oF esTheTics aNd Now ruNs a small home-based saloN iN sTeiNbach called krisTal Nails. "i eNjoy workiNg From home aNd i love my loyal clieNTs," Fehr said. "iT makes me happy To give people beauTiFul Nails." krisTal Nails oFFers maNicures, pedicures, gel polish aNd gel Nails. Mark danley PLUMbER, aMbaSSaDOR MEcHaNIcaL "my plumbiNg career begaN Five years ago wheN i was lookiNg For a career chaNge. i had beeN a liNe cook For 10 years aNd was growiNg Tired oF workiNg eveNiNgs aNd weekeNds. i was also lookiNg To make more moNey To be able To purchase a home. i eNrolled iN The plumbiNg pre- employmeNT program wiTh The assisTaNce oF a compeTiTiveNess, TraiNiNg, aNd Trade program. i FelT This program made iT very easy To TraNsiTioN From oNe Trade To aNoTher." YOU ONLY NEED TO aSk MaNaGEMENT aT MccaINE ELEcTRIc abOUT HOW LONG THEY'vE HaD aN aPPRENTIcESHIP PROGRaM TO GaUGE HOW IMPORTaNT IT IS TO THEM – aND THE SUccESS OF THEIR cOMPaNY. A s a company, we've participated in the province's apprenticeship program for about 45 to 50 years," said McCaine Electric's president John Schubert, noting that the company – which was founded in 1918 – will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. "We're committed to taking apprentices from first year right through to fourth year so they can not only learn a wide range of skills, but so they can learn company culture, safety culture, and our overall approach to business." In an industry that depends on precision, that approach makes sense. "We provide apprentices with mentorship and control the whole process, which means they will be provided with the skills to provide a high level of customer service," said Schubert. "And, hopefully, they'll be able to mentor other electricians further down the line." In many cases, first-year apprentices – who are chosen not only by the quality of their resumé, but their willingness to work – start out as truck drivers or in McCaine's warehouse to learn how the company operates from the ground up. From there, they get hands-on training in the practical aspects of their chosen trade. "We actually have a back shop with a pre-fabrication area where we take apprentices – it allows them to do repetitive work that makes them more comfortable by building a solid skill set in a stable environment," he explained. "That hands-on training then allows them to take that technical training and apply the skills they've acquired in a fairly short time period." Schubert said the apprenticeship concept works for the prospective employee and employer alike. mccaiNe elecTric a big boosTer oF appreNTiceship program By todd lewys For the Free Press mccaiNe elecTric presideNT johN schuberT. phoTo by darcy FiNley Congratulations! Winnipeg Technical College would like to congratulate the winners of the 2014 Apprenticeship Manitoba HighestAchievementAwards. Having provided Manitoba's futureapprenticeswithhands-ontrainingfor28years,WinnipegTechnicalCollegeis honouredtocontinuetobeachosensourceofaccreditationforthemenandwomen whoaredestinedtobecometheleadersofourskilledtradesindustries. wtc.mb.ca 204.989.6500

• Cover