Newly Certified Tradespeople To Be Honoured
One-hundred-fifty of the province's newest cooks, plumbers, welders and other newly certified tradespeople will be honoured at an apprenticeship event in Halifax on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The event recognizes tradespeople who have recently completed a four-year, 8,000-hour apprenticeship training program in one of 53 designated trades including automotive servicing, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, cooking and welding.
"It is important to recognize the achievements of these men and women as they begin their careers as certified tradespeople," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Tradespeople are vital to a strong economic future for Nova Scotia. Apprenticeship provides great career opportunities in a variety of industries and enables students to earn wages while they learn a trade."
Apprenticeship combines classroom studies with technical trades training. About 85 per cent of training is done at the job site. The apprentice has an opportunity to earn while they learn and the employer pays wages based on the level of the experience. More than 3,000 workplaces across the province participate in apprenticeship training.
The province revised the apprenticeship act earlier this year to lay the groundwork for a new youth apprenticeship program to help young people get on track early for careers in trades.
Improvements to the apprenticeship program are part of the province's Skills Nova Scotia initiative. The initiative involves meeting the skill demands of Nova Scotia's labour market, providing better labour market access and support, and strengthening Nova Scotia's system of lifelong learning opportunities.
Twenty-seven-year-old Maggie Horne will be the featured speaker at the recognition event. Last October, Maggie became the first and only female ironworker in Nova Scotia, and the first female ironworker in Canada to achieve the interprovincial Red Seal designation. The Red Seal designation allows tradespeople to work across Canada without being subject to provincial exams.
"I have to say that my experiences as an apprentice were good and I wouldn't trade it for anything," she said. "The journeymen were my partners and taught me a lot."
Maggie had been a bartender, cake decorator, singer, telemarketer and a waitress before following in the footsteps of her brother and father.
"Being an ironworker is hard work, you get your hands dirty, and I love it. I feel a tremendous sense of gratification when I drive down the street and see a building that I've helped to construct."
Ms. Horne, originally from Boularderie Island, Cape Breton, has worked on the Halifax Casino, a new parking garage on Robie Street, the Sobeys office building, various schools in Cape Breton, and many other projects.
About 4,800 apprentices are actively participating in the apprenticeship program in Nova Scotia. Since 1937 more than 52,000 certificates of qualification have been issued in Nova Scotia.