Welding to Carpentry: Grade 8 students experience diverse trades

On March 14, Grade 8 students from David Livingstone, Niji Mahkwa, Shaughnessy Park, and William Whyte Schools had the opportunity to explore various trades and career pathways at R.B. Russell Vocational High School, thanks to the Skills Canada Manitoba Trades for All Diversity Workshop.

Throughout the event, students engaged in hands-on activities. They heard from mentors and students in trades such as welding, horticulture, culinary arts, child care assistant, hairstyling, carpentry, and graphic design. The workshop exposed students to different career options and showcased the success stories of students, mentors and professionals in trades. 

Rihanna, a Grade 8 student from Shaughnessy Park, shared her excitement, stating, "I experienced and learned Welding for the first time, and I am interested in taking up Welding next year in Grade 9. I was very impressed with the creative possibilities in Welding and would like to create something fun next year." 

Students took home their completed welding & graphic design projects, featuring the engraving of a medicine wheel and Manitoba lakes. They also created mini-tables for carpentry, decorated cupcakes for culinary art, learned to braid hair in hairstyling, and created pom-pom art in the child care assistant program. 

The horticulture department students and teacher demonstrated aquaponics, indoor towers, growing, and caring for plants. The graphic design teacher taught them to design artwork using Photoshop. 

Charm Shamji, the In-school Program Director at Skills Canada Manitoba, highlighted the importance of introducing students to various trades and programs at RB Russell Vocational High School. "These programs are hands-on and offer many career opportunities in trades," she said. 

Skills Canada Manitoba promotes careers in trades and technology, and this event specifically targeted schools with diverse populations to ensure all students are aware of the fulfilling career paths available in the trades. 

Guest speaker Silas Meeches, a successful CNC programmer at Magellan Aerospace and former student at Sisler High School, shared his journey of becoming a successful professional in the trades industry with the students. "Working in trades is interesting and rewarding. People in trades are intelligent and gain a lot of knowledge," he said. 

"Students should try everything and build a career they're passionate about." Silas, who won the Skills Canada National Competition for CNC Milling and represented Canada at the Skills International competition in Abu Dhabi, is a real-world example of the success possible in the skilled trades.

Sylvia Martin, the Divisional Principal at the new Career Lab, and guidance counsellor Barbara Parkin planned all the experiential training with all trade teachers and students at R.B. Russell High School.

The Trades for All Diversity Workshop provided students with valuable insights and inspiration as they consider their future career paths, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning and exploring diverse opportunities in trades and technology.