Apprenticeship Manitoba

Apprenticeship Manitoba highesT achievemeNT awards 2014 mariNe aNd ouTdoor power equipmeNT TechNiciaN jusTiN slegers aT luke's TowN service iN elie. phoTo by darcy FiNley 10 - 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 hard work, greaT supporT allow slegers To aTTaiN dream job By todd lewys For the Free Press EvER SINcE HE WaS a YOUNGSTER, jUSTIN SLEGERS aLWaYS LIkED USING HIS HaNDS. A ccording to the 23-year-old Red River College graduate, his bent for fixing all things mechan- ical was a natural one. "My stepfather and uncle were always fixing all kinds of mechanical stuff, so I guess it was natural for me to follow their example," he said. "They were into snowmobiling, and from that, I got interested in motocross and started racing, and I also love boating, so becoming a mechanic fit me perfectly." Today, Slegers is plying his trade as a marine and outdoor power equipment technician at Luke's Town Service in Elie after studying at Red River and being trained as an apprentice at Luke's. Slegers is the first Highest Achiever in the trade of Marine and Outdoor Power Equipment Technician that was only designated in 2009. After struggling through high school, he said that it's been liberating to have gone through a focused program that's allowed him to earn a living at something he loves to do. "It doesn't seem like work – I look forward to coming into work each and every day," he said. "Every day is different; I love the variety and all the different challenges that come with the work I do." Slegers said his drive to excel comes from doing what he loves – and an innate desire to be as good as he can be at whatever he does. "First and foremost, I want to be efficient at my job, so that means putting in the time, concentration and study hours required to know the product. Because I love my work, that comes naturally," he said. "I'm always brushing up on new products, and getting refreshers on older products so I'm up to date on everything. I just sponge it up because I love what I do." He also credits Red River College and his current employer for helping him develop his innate skills to the high level they now reside at. "I couldn't have been happier with the (Marine and Outdoor Power Equipment Technician) program at Red River. One of the instructors in the program, Mark Blackner, was a very smart man, and really helped me along in so many ways during my time there," Slegers said. "The great thing about the program is that I was able to immediately apply the knowledge I attained there – it helped me diagnose pretty much anything. I would recommend the program to anyone." Slegers added that Luke's staff also took the time to help him fine-tune his skills. "They supported me during my apprenticeship, and still support me now. It was a great environment to learn in, and is now a great environment to work in every day. I really enjoy the people I work with. When you combine great people with challenging work that's different every day, you can't help but look forward to going to work. This job is absolutely perfect for me." Just because he's found his ideal job, that doesn't mean Slegers is going to rest on his laurels. His quest for knowledge and efficiency is going to continue for many decades to come. "The key to be the best you can be at what you do is dedication," he said. "As the years go on, I'll be building my skills by doing things such as taking online certification for all the different products I work on, and by continuing to brush up on new and old products alike. That way, I'll be ready to solve any product-related challenge that comes my way. If I don't have the answer right away, I'll put in the time and research needed to find it." Armed with that attitude, the future is bright for Slegers, who will turn 24 in November. Thanks to a practical, focused program at Red River and a supportive workplace, he has a career that he loves – and that pays him fairly for all his hard work and dedication. The best part of it all is that it's just getting started, he added. "The possibilities are endless. Right now, I'm just going to enjoy where I am and work at improving every day. Who knows, by the time I'm 28 or 30 years old, maybe I'll be ready to venture out on my own with a dealership, or in a partnership with someone. I've got a lot of people to thank for helping me find a job that I love. I couldn't ask for anything better at this point in my life." ❚❙ Scott caMPBell INDUSTRIaL MEcHaNIc (MILLWRIGHT), MaNITOba HYDRO "wheN i was youNger iT Never occurred To me To sTarT iN a Trade, buT wiTh chaNgiNg Times aNd ouTlooks iT was clear ThaT a skilled TradespersoN would be a valuable asseT To The ecoNomy oF maNiToba," campbell said. wheN he saw ThaT maNiToba hydro was lookiNg For iNdusTrial mechaNics, he jumped aT The opporTuNiTy. he was hired iN march 2009 aNd eNTered The appreNTiceship program as aN iNdusTrial mechaNic iN may 2009. "i compleTed Two oF Four levels oF TechNical school aT wiNNipeg TechNical college aNd The remaiNiNg Two levels aT ucN Near The pas. wiTh The kNowledge i gaiNed iN school, hydro allowed me To grow my skills by allowiNg me opporTuNiTies To TraiN wiTh kNowledgeable jourNeymaN mechaNics iN locaTioNs ThroughouT maNiToba." campbell said The appreNTiceship helped him gaiN The TechNical skills he Needed For The Trade. "The excelleNT haNds-oN Field TraiNiNg i obTaiNed aT maNiToba hydro allowed me To gaiN coNFideNce iN The Trade." Now ThaT campbell has compleTed The appreNTiceship program aNd obTaiNed his red seal cerTiFicaTioN, he has beeN able To go iNTo The workplace aNd coNTiNue To develop skills as a TradespersoN. "eNTeriNg a Trade was a good decisioN For me aNd i would sTroNgly recommeNd iT To aNyoNe. secure work aNd good pay For aN hoNesT day's work is very saTisFyiNg." duncan MacWilliaM aUTOMOTIvE SERvIcE TEcHNIcIaN, NESS aUTO SERvIcE INc. "i eNjoy The work i do very much because every day is diFFereNT aNd There are always New problems To solve. my Time as aN appreNTice was excelleNT aNd i hope ThaT oNe day i will be TeachiNg This Trade aT red river college."

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