Tec Voc's Aerospace All-Star

Photos by Tec Voc Photography​

A key driving force behind Tec Voc High School's ongoing partnership with Manitoba Aerospace has been honoured for his lengthy career.

Greg Link, Tec Voc's Aerospace Coordinator, was presented with a Manitoba Aerospace All-Stars Award for Excellence in Education and Training. The annual award ceremony took place at the Victoria Inn on Nov. 22, 2018.

"I love this evening, not only because it gives me a chance to network with the industry, but because all of the proceeds go to a scholarship fund that in part, benefits our students. Last year, $3,300 of that fund went to Tec Voc students that earned awards."

Mr. Link has been at Tec Voc for his entire WSD career, stretching back to 1991.

He was chair of Tec Voc's Department Head Council when the Manitoba Aerospace/Winnipeg School Division partnership was formed 24 years ago. The Aerospace Manufacturing and Maintenance Orientation Program (AMMOP) has been running out of Tec Voc for the last 22 years.

"Aerospace in this province had two problems at the time. One of them was a good problem - they had a lot of work coming to Manitoba. The second one was that they had a relatively old workforce…they needed new blood," said Mr. Link, who has been serving as the program's coordinator for nine years. "At the time, we had just shut down our sheet metal shop at Tec Voc, so we had the available space."

The space was turned into a machining, welding and aerospace training shop. Since day one, the Manitoba Aerospace has kept in continual contact to ensure graduates meet the needs of the industry.

"Aerospace came in and gave us advice on how to set-up the space and even gave us some equipment," Mr. Link said. "We have an advisory group that meets every second month to let us know the current goings-on of the industry. We also present our curriculum to the industry once a year and we'd adjust accordingly. So we get direct feedback annually to modify for the current needs of the industry."

In AMMOP's 22 years of existence, 76 per cent of its 674 graduates have gone on to work or are currently completing post-secondary education in the aerospace industry.

The program targets post-high students who show an aptitude in math, science and english. AMMOP is a 10-month program, in which students attend from 7:45 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. (the hours matching the industry) for a half a week. Due to the success of the post-high program, a high-school age program was also introduced.

"Our instructors instill our beliefs with our students: safety, dependability, problem solving - all of those values that are key when it comes to aerospace. The public trusts that our students you are doing their job maintaining planes. We emphasize that people are essentially trusting their lives with you."

In addition to coordinating AMMOP students (including background/security clearances, arranging mentorships, work experience and jobsite tours), Mr. Link also travels around Manitoba to reach students who have the appropriate skillset in math and science.

"I visit many adult education centres, where I meet for example a 23-year-old who may be working a dead end job but they are upgrading their math and sciences…I show them that there are jobs waiting for them once they are finished upgrading. They are upgrading with a purpose, and that's where I get our best students, because they are motivated. These individuals know how to work, but we expose them to several aerospace jobs – jobs that often become careers."

For more information on AMMOP, visit here.

The AMMOP annual Open House will be held on May 1, 2019 – 5:00 PM at Tec Voc.