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Trade Winds of Change
Apprenticeship program oers
hands-on learning for aboriginals
Amazing Race
Local participants shine alongside
Canadas best in national competition
Bruce Steel is building a brand and
mentoring a future workforce
METAL
Contender
Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta Fall 2014
HH_Fall14_p01.indd 1 2014-10-10 2:06 PM
Copyright 2014 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: The yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
*With respect to the DEWALT 20V MAX*: Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
INTRODUCING DEWALTS LINE OF LIGHTWEIGHT CORDLESS
TOOLS- XR. THE DEWALT XR LINE WAS DESIGNED TO
COMBINE THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF A
BRUSHLESS MOTOR SYSTEM AND THE POWER SUPPLIED
BY THE HIGH CAPACITY XR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
TO PROVIDE EXTREME RUNTIME ON ANY JOBSITE.
GET MORE DONE. GET DEWALT XR.
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
33
44
* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
*With respect to 12V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8.
Actual run time varies depending on battery type and heat setting
Copyright 2013 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
*With respect to 12V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8.
Actual run time varies depending on battery type and heat setting
Copyright 2013 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
DEWALT HEATED WORK JACKETS. DESIGNED FOR CONSTANT WEAR
HEATED WORK JACKETS
The jackets, when used with a DEWALT 20V MAX* or 12V MAX* battery, are capable of providing hours of core body warmth and
continuous heat

. Each jacket offers a water- and wind-resistant outer shell, an LED controller with 3 temperature settings plus
pre-heat mode, and at least 3 core body heating zones. The heating power is transferred from the battery to the jacket by a USB power
source that is also capable of charging up to 2 electronic devices that are USB-compatible. Tailored Tough to DEFROST any Worksite.
DW_HardHatDPS_Fall14.pdf 1 9/17/14 2:33 PM
000HH-DeWalt-DPS.indd 1 2014-09-17 12:54 PM HH_Fall14_p02-03.indd 2 2014-10-10 2:05 PM
Copyright 2014 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: The yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
*With respect to the DEWALT 20V MAX*: Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
INTRODUCING DEWALTS LINE OF LIGHTWEIGHT CORDLESS
TOOLS- XR. THE DEWALT XR LINE WAS DESIGNED TO
COMBINE THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY OF A
BRUSHLESS MOTOR SYSTEM AND THE POWER SUPPLIED
BY THE HIGH CAPACITY XR LITHIUM ION BATTERIES
TO PROVIDE EXTREME RUNTIME ON ANY JOBSITE.
GET MORE DONE. GET DEWALT XR.
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH
33
44
* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
*With respect to 12V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8.
Actual run time varies depending on battery type and heat setting
Copyright 2013 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
* With respect to 20V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 20 volts. Nominal voltage is 18.
*With respect to 12V MAX*, maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 12 volts. Nominal voltage is 10.8.
Actual run time varies depending on battery type and heat setting
Copyright 2013 DEWALT. The following are examples of trademarks for one or more DEWALT power tools and accessories: the yellow and black color scheme; the
D-shaped air intake grill; the array of pyramids on the handgrip; the kit box configuration; and the array of lozenge-shaped humps on the surface of the tool.
DEWALT HEATED WORK JACKETS. DESIGNED FOR CONSTANT WEAR
HEATED WORK JACKETS
The jackets, when used with a DEWALT 20V MAX* or 12V MAX* battery, are capable of providing hours of core body warmth and
continuous heat

. Each jacket offers a water- and wind-resistant outer shell, an LED controller with 3 temperature settings plus
pre-heat mode, and at least 3 core body heating zones. The heating power is transferred from the battery to the jacket by a USB power
source that is also capable of charging up to 2 electronic devices that are USB-compatible. Tailored Tough to DEFROST any Worksite.
DW_HardHatDPS_Fall14.pdf 1 9/17/14 2:33 PM
000HH-DeWalt-DPS.indd 1 2014-09-17 12:54 PM HH_Fall14_p02-03.indd 3 2014-10-10 2:05 PM
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Executive Secretary Treasurers REPORT
Martyn A. Piper
Pride and
Performance
Wins Work
ow, where did this year go?
Its fall already and there is plenty
still going on as we head into the last
part of this year. Fortunately, work continues to
be plentiful; however, it never ceases to amaze me
how a small minority of our members continue
to act out on jobs in a way that soils all of our
reputations. I have said repeatedly that behaviour,
production and safety wins work. If you do only
one thing as a union member, report bad behavior,
unsafe acts and being disrespectful to fellow
workers. There just is no substitute for pride and
performance.
In terms of recent activities there have been
plenty. Bargaining for a new provincial construc-
tion collective agreement is under way. Talks are
about to open on new agreements at Westman
Steel and we have just been served with a notice to
bargain at Ply Gem/Gienow. We expect that this
will be particularly challenging, given the size of
the two merged plants (675 people) and the need to
figure out wage schedules that ensure equity and
fairness as well as merging the two groups into one
set of terms and conditions of employment. Even
this early on in the process I want to thank those
people at Ply Gem/Gienow who have volunteered
their time to work on the various committees
under the leadership of Paul Zarbatany and
Matthew Macleod.
We also have some serious litigation going on
with both the Stampede Board and City of Calgary
with respect to harnessing the construction work
in which they are involved. The Labour Relations
Board has confirmed that we have bargaining cer-
tificates that encompass all construction as well as
maintenance work undertaken by these
two employers.
At ATCO, we are in the throes of attempting to
get a memorandum of agreement ratified. Should
that not happen, the
employer and the
union will have to
return to the bargaining table.
As I am writing this piece, there is still no firm decision from the
chairman or the Provincial Apprenticeship Board about the status of
the application to make scaffolding a designated trade. As you should be
aware, the union and our contractors are on record opposing both the
occupation designation and voluntary trade designation. We are hopeful
this issue will be put to bed and we can get back to focusing our efforts
on producing world-class and safe scaffolders. Going forward, it will be
up to those other parties who are seeking designation to make the same
investment that the Carpenters Trust Fund has to bring their standards
in line with ours, if that is truly their interest. More importantly, we need
to ensure that nobody moves from one level to the next without time in
the trade and requisite schooling.
For the New Year we are working on plans to initiate training in the
ISM/lather and flooring trades. We have started meeting with various
contractors, predominantly non-union at this point, to gauge the level
of support and how relationships might develop. We are fortunate to
have ready-made curricula and teaching materials, courtesy of the
International Training Center in Las Vegas. This would truly be an
exciting development, but there is much up-front work to be done before
we can move from planning to putting students in school.
Before I close, I want to acknowledge the sudden passing of our friend
and Brother John Tackaberry. John was the business manager of the
Painters and Glassworkers Alberta Council and also the chairman of the
Building Trades of Alberta. I first met John around 1977 in Calgary and
he epitomized what a real trade unionist should be. John was not only a
bright and knowledgeable person, he was also one of those people who
always acknowledged and made you feel special. His likeable personality,
humour and sincerity will be missed by all who knew him and I know
many of our Brothers and Sisters crossed paths with John at one time or
another. We extend to his wife Jacquie and all of his family our condo-
lences. Our thoughts are with them as they go through this difficult time.
Moving on, Christmas and the New Year are quickly approaching, so
let me say thanks and best wishes to our members and families, staff
and executive boards. Good luck and good health and lets re-dedicate
ourselves to the mission Peter J. McGuire set for us 140 years ago.
W
4 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p04-05.indd 4 2014-10-10 2:05 PM
Important Phone Numbers
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Edmonton 780-471-3200
Fort McMurray 780-743-1442
Calgary 403-283-0747
Carpenters Training Centre 780-455-6532
Carpenters Health and Welfare 780-477-9131
Carpenters Pension 780-477-9131
Industrial Workers 403-283-0747
Millwright Local 1460 780-430-1460
Local Union 1325 and 2103 Dispatch 1-888-944-0818
Contents
13
18
ON THE COVER:
Bruce Steel Erectors
PHOTO: Romy Young
FEATURES
10 Going Local
Bruce Steel Erectors is a friend to
Alberta unions and a top employer of
aboriginal and homegrown workers
By Jacqueline Louie
13 Pedal to the Metal
On the jobsite with Westman Steel
14 Executive Decisions
A look at the new
ARCCAW executive
18 Brotherly Competition
Alberta apprentices bring their skills to
the National Apprenticeship Contest
By Robbie Jeffrey
21 Trading Up
Sixteen-week pre-apprenticeship
program sets up students for success
By Nadia Moharib
DEPARTMENTS
4 Note from the Executive
Secretary Treasurer
By Martyn Piper
7 Site Lines
Meet Alexis at Local 1460; 1325 service
awards; Chuckwagon sponsorship;
Calaway Park Day; mass email
registration and more
15 On the Level
Brandi Thorne gives a first-hand
account of life as a scaffolder
24 Geared Up
25 KidZone
26 Meet the Instructor
27 Meet the Apprentice
28 Training & Apprenticeship Report
By Len Bryden
29 Local 1460 Millwrights Report
By Bob Hugh
30 Parting Shot
31 Training & Events; In Memoriam
PUBLISHED FOR
Alberta Regional Council of
Carpenters & Allied Workers
15210 123 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3
Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910
www.albertacarpenters.com
PUBLISHED BY
Venture Publishing Inc.
10259 105 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 1E3
Toll-free: 1-866-227-4276
Phone: (780) 990-0839
Fax: (780) 425-4921
www.venturepublishing.ca
PUBLISHER
Ruth Kelly
ARCCAW EDITOR
Martyn A. Piper
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM CONTENT
Mi Purvis
EDITOR
Shelley Williamson
ART DIRECTOR
Charles Burke
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS
Andrea deBoer, Colin Spence
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Betty Feniak Smith
PRODUCTION TECHNICIANS
Brent Felzien, Brandon Hoover
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Martin Dover, Robbie Jerey, Jacqueline Louie,
Nadia Moharib, Erica Viegas
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AND ILLUSTRATORS
Darryl Propp, Curtis Trent, Romy Young
VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES
Anita McGillis
ALLYSON KURIAN
Director of Sales
ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Kathy Kelley
SALES ASSISTANT
Julia Ehli
Contents 2014 by ARCCAW Inc.
No part of this publication should be reproduced
without written permission.
Fall 14
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 5
HH_Fall14_p04-05.indd 5 2014-10-10 2:05 PM
HH_Fall14_p06-09.indd 6 2014-10-10 2:01 PM
Members of Locals 1325 and 2103 relaxed their muscles and exercised their appetites
at independent picnics this past August. Members from 1325 were treated to tasty fare served by
executive members at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre in Edmonton, while 2103 members
and their families hit Calaway for an afternoon of rides and refreshments.
Annual
Picnics
Site Lines News in Brief
A roundup of news and events
from around the region
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 7
HH_Fall14_p06-09.indd 7 2014-10-10 2:02 PM
Please sign up to have your current email address on file with the Alberta
Carpenters provincial dispatch office in Edmonton, to be included in the Regional Council
and training centres mass email service. We often send out important notices and bulletins
to members, such as news about open spots in courses. Call 780-471-3200 or (toll-free)
800-272-7905 to reach our dispatch department, to have your email registered.
You can also email your contact details to sharon@albertacarpenters.com.
Stay Connected
My name is Alexis Rabin.
Since my warm welcome in July
as receptionist for the Local 1460
Millwrights, it has been a steady
learning curve. Fortunately since
that time I have been allowed to
demonstrate my considerable life-
and work-related skills. My work
history and training includes
Introducing Alexis
Local 1460 Childrens
CHRISTMAS PARTY!
Sunday, November 30, 2014 | 11am to 3pm
Double Tree by Hilton (Formerly Mayfield Inn)
16615 109 Avenue, Edmonton
All family members are
welcome! Children 12
or younger will receive
a gift. Come between
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
for face painting and a
balloon artist! Luncheon
between noon and 1
p.m., followed by a
50-minute magic show.
To ensure space and food for everyone, and appropriate gifts for
children aged 12 and under, pre-registration is a must!
REGISTRATIONS NOT ACCEPTED AFTER NOVEMBER 21.
Pre-registration requires
the following information:
Members name
Number of family
members attending
Age and gender of
children 12 and under
To pre-register, email
info@millwrights.1460.com
or call 780-430-1460, ext 2164,
or toll-free at 1-877-250-5079
no later than November 21, 2014
everything from office management and independent insurance
adjuster, to my most recent diploma from NAIT as a combined
laboratory and X-ray technician.
My husband Mark and I, our 23-year-old daughter Megan and
our 21-year-old son Dale, welcomed their sister Molly on August
6, 2012. Having decided a more stable work environment was in
order, I was happy to join the Millwright, 1460 team. However,
if you want to bring in your X-rays, I will grimace along with you
while you recount your story.
HH_Fall14_p06-09.indd 8 2014-10-10 2:01 PM
The Building Trades of Alberta decided to pony up and
put its sponsorship for the last two races of the season behind the Shane
J. Cartier chuckwagon, seen here in action at the Canadian Chuckwagon
Finals in Vegreville in August. The Building Trades of Alberta represents
75,000 skilled building trade workers in 22 affiliated unions.
Local 1325 Awards
Dinner and Dance
On the Bandwagon
On February 21, 2015, Local 1325 will hold its
Service Awards Banquet and Dance at the Chateau
Lacombe Hotel in Edmonton. Invitations for those
members celebrating 25 years and up, in multiples
of five, will be sent out in November 2014. Additional
tickets, at $50 each, will be available for sale at the
Union Hall in Edmonton. The RSVP deadline for the
event is February 6, 2015.
We look forward to another fabulous event to
present pins to celebrate our long term members!
Alberta Blue Cross 2014 Hardhat 1/2 pg vertical/ full colour -
Trim Size: 3.625 x 9.875 RUN Spring Fall
www.ab.bluecross.ca/group
When it comes to the
health of your employees
its important to have a plan.
Alberta Blue Cross delivers the group benefits
that employees prefer, and the value your
business needs.
ABC 83188 2014/01
Prescription Drugs Dental Life and Disability
Vision Travel Coverage Critical Illness
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Call us today for a confdential, no-obligation
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Edmonton 780-498-8500
Lethbridge 403-328-6081
Grande Prairie 780-532-3507
Calgary 403-294-4004
Medicine Hat 403-529-5550
Red Deer 403-347-7999
Toll free 1-866-513-2555
HH_Fall14_p06-09.indd 9 2014-10-15 2:39 PM
INTEREST SPARKED: Roger Bruneau of Bruce Steel Erectors
believes the future of tradespeople in Alberta depends on nurturing
young people who are interested in becoming apprentices.
10 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p10-13.indd 10 2014-10-10 1:53 PM
Going
Local
Yet another benefit, points out Bruneau, is the opportunity for ongo-
ing education. To facilitate this, employers pay into an education
fund for employees as part of the collective agreement with unions.
At any given time, Bruce Steel Erectors has anywhere from nine to
60 workers, including ironworkers, pipefitters, millwrights, operat-
ing engineers, scaffolders, administrators, planners and labourers.
Bruce Steel Erectors does everything from building gas plants to
maintenance, repairs, modifications, shutdowns and turnarounds,
hiring through a variety of trade union halls. You need to assess
your manpower, says Bruneau, who will estimate a job and then
make calls into a union hall, which has 48 to 72 hours to supply him
with workers.
When hiring, Bruce Steel Erectors focuses on aboriginal and
Canadian workers. I am a Canadian and will support Canadians,
says Bruneau, who doesnt look for temporary foreign workers because
hes always been able to find staff locally. People here are capable of
doing the work, and the ones that arent, are capable of being trained.
We need to invest in our own people.
One of the organizations that Bruce Steel turns to when hiring, is the
Regina-based Aboriginal Skilled Workers Association (ASWA), which
has a pool of workers certified in the trades. The company also supports
Trade Winds to Success Training Society, an exclusive aboriginal
pre-apprenticeship training program that addresses the low level of
participation of aboriginal people in the skilled trades in Alberta.
oger Bruneau, general manager of Bruce Steel
Erectors, says there is nothing that aboriginal people cant
do when they put their minds to it.
And he encourages people who are hard workers
aboriginals and non-aboriginals alike to set their sights high and go
after their dreams. Were always looking for opportunities. Were
always looking to help our people develop their skills, says Bruneau,
who became the Edmonton-based companys majority shareholder
in 2008.
Bruce Steel Erectors is a multi-trade contractor doing field work,
rigging, erecting, welding, structural steel, piping, millwrighting and
equipment operation, mainly in Alberta and Saskatchewan, serving
the oil and gas industry and also doing industrial maintenance and
selective commercial work.
Oil and gas in Alberta is the place to be thats where the money
is, Bruneau says. Oil and gas is big, and its not going away. There is
probably about $30 billion of work in the planning stages right now.
And because there is a shortage of tradespeople, The opportunities
are pretty much unlimited.
Working in the trades brings many benefits, Bruneau says. The
wages are excellent: the average tradesperson, who makes approx-
imately $40 an hour plus benefits, can easily earn $80,000 a year.
Another bonus: If you become a tradesperson, your schooling is
paid for by the union. You come out as a journeyman with no debt.
Bruce Steel Erectors is a friend to Alberta unions and
a top employer of aboriginal and homegrown workers
By JACQUELINE LOUIE | Photography by ROMY YOUNG
R
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 11
HH_Fall14_p10-13.indd 11 2014-10-15 2:40 PM
HOT MARKET: Blue Steel Erectors Roger Bruneau, who
is Metis, says aboriginals are an underused workforce and
hed like to see more of them in the trades.
an apprenticeship in a trade, which could open the door for them
to eventually become small business owners or run a contracting
company of their own.
Right now, we have a situation where were in an economic
boom in Alberta, says Hugh, who believes that in order to avoid
a shortage of skilled workers, its essential to encourage young
people to become involved in apprenticeships and the trades. A lot
of other industries have gone to temporary foreign workers, and I
dont think that is necessary. We need to keep the better paid jobs
in Canada. I believe we can manage our own destiny by bringing
in apprenticeships and growing from within, in Canada. In terms
of trades-related careers, two of the most underutilized groups of
people in Canada are women and aboriginals, notes Hugh. We need
to reach out to them we need more of them getting involved in
the trades.
However, there are many challenges facing aboriginal people, and
according to Bruneau, one of the biggest hurdles is racism. Its less
than it was 30 years ago, but it still exists, says Bruneau. Young
aboriginals face it all the time and they have to rise above that.
Young aboriginal people have a lot of obstacles, but they can all
be overcome.
Aboriginal people have been stereotyped as good for nothing,
Bruneau says. In my experience, the ones who want to go to work
are extremely smart and they usually work very hard. They are every
bit as successful as anybody else Ive hired.
For Bruneau, overcoming these stereotypes hits close to home:
As a Mtis, I struggled to get where I am, he says. I did that by
studying. I invested in myself, writing exams and showing up. I did
my work, stayed out of the drama and moved forward.
Born and raised in St. Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba, Bruneau holds three
journeyman tickets and a variety of other trades qualifications. He
began working in the trades at the age of 15, and has experience in a
diversity of industries across Canada. The best training I got was
through the unions. The best job opportunities I got were through
the unions, recalls Bruneau,
noting that good workers in the
trades are recognized for their
skills, quality and performance.
Thats how you move ahead.
Now 50, Bruneau would like
to retire from Bruce Steel Erectors within the next six years. But he
has no plans to stop contributing. Together with industry, Bruneau
would love an opportunity to come up with solutions to put more
aboriginal people to work. Id like to sit at a roundtable one day with
industry and point out places where we could do this, he says.
If there is one message he wants to get out to aboriginal people,
its that Everybody is as good as everybody else every single one
of them. They are the masters of their destiny. If they want to own
a company like Bruce Steel, thats up to them. There is only one
important thing in business, and that is to take care of the client, and
the client will take care of you. Make the client successful, be easy to
deal with, make their life simple, and they will keep you employed.
Do the best you can and youll be recognized.
He concludes: The opportunities are there you just have to go
after them. The sky is the limit for them.
A non-profit society, Trade Winds to Success offers a 16-week
pre-apprenticeship program for aboriginal people, that prepares them
to enter an accredited apprenticeship program and graduate as a jour-
neyman in their trade. Along the way, the program provides guidance,
counselling, mentorship and oversight, all the necessary support
systems which are very often unique to aboriginal people, says Trade
Winds president and chairman
Martyn Piper, who is also exec-
utive secretary-treasurer of the
Alberta Regional Council of
Carpenters and Allied Workers.
Successful completion of the
Trade Winds program gives participants enough skill to go out in the
field, market themselves and be productive individuals as a first-year
apprentice, says Bob Hugh, senior business representative and direc-
tor of training with Alberta Millwrights Local 1460, which represents
1,600 millwrights in Alberta and is a training partner in the Trade
Winds pre-apprenticeship program.
The program gets them through the prerequisite safety training
theyll need to go into the job site, Hugh says. It also provides partici-
pants with a good understanding of whats required when working out
in the field and goes over employers expectations of being work-ready,
punctual and committed to the completion of a project. We hope that
by taking the program with us, that theyll flourish in the apprentice-
ship program and be productive individuals in our community.
By completing the Trade Winds pre-apprenticeship program,
Hugh says, participants have the opportunity to go on and complete
Young aboriginal people have a lot of obstacles,
but they can all be overcome.
- Roger Bruneau, Bruce Steel Erectors
12 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p10-13.indd 12 2014-10-10 1:53 PM
Pedal to
the Metal
Westman Steel is one of the largest manufacturers in
Western Canada of premium steel products including cladding,
fasteners, flashing, lining panels and roofing, and an employer of
Local 2103 members. Hard Hat paid a visit to the Airdrie site to
capture some of the crew hard at work in the plant.
Nam Cam Giovanni Bianchini, Austin Sinclair and Cori Olsen
Bob Sawatsky
Derek Daigle and Tony Picard Charles Skinner Kevin Yeung and Ho Dinh Quan
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 13
HH_Fall14_p10-13.indd 13 2014-10-10 1:53 PM
early 80 delegates came out to cast a
ballot at the Chateau Louis Hotel in Edmonton
for the September 6 election of the Alberta
Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers
(ARCCAW) executive.
Martyn Piper, executive-secretary for ARCCAW, says the
elections are an important part of the selection and running
of the council. Its the central governance and oversight
for the affairs of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in
Alberta. That really, at the end of the day, is the purpose for the
Regional Council, he explains.
Elections are held every four years and delegates are elected
by their local unions every three years. On the Regional
Regional Council executive selected
for the next four years
ARCCAW
ELECTION
By MARTIN DOVER
Council Executive Board front, Bob Hugh (Local 1460) was re-elected
president, Mike Dunlop (Local 1325) was elected as the new vice-presi-
dent, Martyn Piper (Local 1325) was re-elected as executive-secretary,
while Norma Guzman (Local 2010), Gary Loroff (Local 2103), and
Celine Stevenson (Local 1460) were all elected as trustees. Vince
Parizeau was elected as warden, while Bruce Payne, Robert Provencher,
Moe Rahime and Paul Zarbatamy all got the nod as ARCCAW executive
committee members for another four years.
Piper says he wants to thank the outgoing members of the executive,
including Greg Budd (Local 1325), Shane Whitmore (Local 2103), Bob
Arnestad (Local 2010), Gord Evers (Local 1460), and Bill Weireter
(Local 2010). Their contributions have been appreciated they have
served the council well over the last four years, he says.
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N
HH_Fall14_p14-15.indd 14 2014-10-15 2:41 PM
on the level
o whats the big deal? That question has run
through my head a thousand times when people talk
about me being a woman scaffolder. I never understood
why people couldnt see me as just a scaffolder.
Growing up in Alberta, I have always worked hard with my
family to chop wood, pack the kit for hunting, tend to the animals
and harvest the garden. We took pride in our accomplishments
together because we helped each other. There was always the air of
friendly competition to see who could shuck the most peas or chop
the most wood. When I began scaffolding, I found the teamwork
and camaraderie was just like my family. Instantly, I loved being a
part of that. This is why I am still in the trade today.
I joined Local 1325 in August of 2005. That was a year of big
changes in my life and among the biggest change was my career
path. I took an opportunity at Dow Chemical just outside of Fort
Saskatchewan. My daughter was eight years old, and I was looking
for a stable income with reliable hours. I remember being the only
female scaffolder with that contractor. I completed my apprentice-
ship in December of 2007 (I had to wait for my anniversary date),
and by then I had worked with a handful of women. Some would
stay and some would go. I remember the first female journeyman
scaffolder/carpenter I met. I was impressed with the way she
carried herself as confident and professional. I decided that
was the benchmark I would measure myself against.
Two months after joining, I felt a need to go to a union meeting.
I wanted to find out more about it. The first time entering the
building on Princess Elizabeth Avenue was
scary. But soon other members started
to help me understand what was going on
and made me feel a part of it. I became a
delegate in 2008 and the conductor for the
locals executive board in 2009.
In 2010, I was appointed the chair of the Alberta Regional
Council Sisters in the Brotherhood. A great team of women hosted
the first womens conference in Canada in October of 2011. Today,
I am involved in Journeyman, a Canadian Building Trades Unions
initiative to promote, support and mentor women in the skilled
trades. All 14 affiliated unions are working together to build a
Women are increasingly working their way
into careers in the skilled trades
Sisters in the Brotherhood
workforce that is more inclusive and diverse. This is exciting
and I am proud to have been chosen to represent all Canadian
UBC members.
Now, when I ask myself what the big deal is, I understand a
few things differently. First, it is a big deal to be a skilled trades-
person. This career path for
me has provided for my family
while giving me a rewarding and
fulfilling experience. Second,
it is a big deal to be a successful
woman in the trades. It hasnt
always been easy to be me in a place where Im different, but
I have persevered and we are all better for it. Lastly, and most
importantly, it is a big deal to be a union member. We are like
my family. We can enjoy a sense of friendly competition. We can
help each other out. We can take pride in our accomplishments
together. That is a big deal.
By BRANDI THORNE
P
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When I began scaffolding, I found
the teamwork and camaraderie was
just like my family. Instantly, I loved
being a part of that.
S
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 15
HH_Fall14_p14-15.indd 15 2014-10-10 1:46 PM
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Brotherly Competition
n August, journeyman carpenter Chad Gerrits returned
to Toronto from Alberta to see his family. Distinguishing
this trip from a regular visit, he was there to compete in the
22
nd
- annual National Apprenticeship Contest, hosted by the United
Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) at the picturesque downtown
Roundhouse Park. Gerritss whole family is involved in carpentry, mak-
ing the event even more significant than a standard family reunion.
If he just wanted to see his family, it would have been simpler for
Gerrits to buy a plane ticket. Getting to the contest was no small
feat after impressing the carpenters hall with his high grades, they
asked Gerrits to compete in a provincial preliminary contest with five
other like-minded contestants. He did so and won, landing him a seat
to the national contest as Albertas only contending carpenter, where
he would compete with participants from every province in Canada in
a rigorous three-day skills showcase, August 21-23.
Evan Polok was also picked for his academic achievements. The
21-year-old millwright apprentice from local 1460, who will begin his
fourth year at NAIT in November, went through the preliminaries and
emerged as Albertas dignitary in his trade. He approached the contest
with a cool head: You just treat it like work, he says. Youre a skilled
worker that should run into this stuff on a daily basis. But the appren-
tices representing Alberta must have been nervous only journeymen
and fourth-year students can compete, and you only get one shot at
the trophy, which the winner brings back to their hall for a year.
Every year, a different Canadian city hosts the event.
Edmonton hosted in 2002 and also in 2012, the events 20th anniversary. Its
aim is to promote the brotherhood and the trades represented therein, as Len
Bryden, director of training and apprenticeship with the Alberta Carpenters
Training Centre, explains. Its all about taking the best and the brightest of
each province and putting them in a national competition and showcasing it
as much to the public as we can to promote the trades, he says.
Beginning on the Thursday, the contestants had a meet-and-greet
reception before starting theory testing the next day. Saturday, however,
was the day of action in the contest. Apprentices from four categories
carpentry, millwrighting, interior systems mechanics and drywall and
a new addition, floor covering, gathered at Roundhouse Park for the
eight-hour practical exam. They had to complete a project start to finish,
and the winners, determined by a host of examination factors, were
announced at an evening banquet at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, featuring
guest speakers including CFL star Michael Pinball Clemons.
The National Apprenticeship Contest is only one part of the UBCs
mandate to promote apprenticeships. Each regional council in Canada has
training trust funds paid into by employers, and in most cases, the funds
pay for the apprentices tuition, for example. But the contest, especially
the practical portion, is where the rubber meets the road. We want the
general public to know that UBC members are some of the best workers
an employer could want, Bryden says. At both the provincial and national
competitions, some employers will offer apprentices a job on the spot.
Chad Gerrits, who placed third
in the carpentry competition
Under a tent in Torontos Roundhouse Park, Polok had to construct
a mock drive station, with an electric motor going into a gear box,
while Gerrits was required to build a two- or three-person garden
bench with a roof. Bryden says the event isnt about winning its more
for fostering a sense of brotherhood and raising everyones skill levels.
Regardless, Alberta made its presence felt: Polok scored a command-
ing second place, saying, Its nice to get on the podium for Alberta
and bring something back. And in a tight race that came down to
half-percents and tiny details, Gerrits took third place. I talked to one
judge who said he wouldnt want to mark that again, and that it could
have gone either way, he says. But Im very proud of how I finished.
His favourite part was competing in front of 25 friends and family
members. I was very proud to place. It meant a lot to have my whole
family there watching me, he says.
Alberta apprentices bring their skills to the National Apprenticeship Contest in Toronto
By ROBBIE JEFFREY
I
18 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p18-20.indd 18 2014-10-10 1:38 PM
Evan Polok, second place nisher in the millwright competition
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 19
HH_Fall14_p18-20.indd 19 2014-10-10 1:38 PM
20 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p18-20.indd 20 2014-10-10 1:39 PM
O
ne might say Jonas Soosay is a well-balanced
fellow. And they would be right.
Poised to get his scaffolding journeyman status early
next year, the Albertan has climbed the workplace
ladder, for sure. Before, I was just a line cook, he says. It was, I gotta
look at a career. This is not what I planned in life. I thought, Where
am I going to be in five years?
Answering that question became easier when Soosay signed up
at Trade Winds to Success, after seeing the trades training program
advertised on public transit. Now, with Trade Winds approaching
its first decade next fall, Soosay is one of many success stories. Since
2006, 781 students have completed the program, with 693 of them
finding employment, 460 of which were union positions.
Long wanting to be a carpenter, Soosay thought the program might
be a way to make it happen and he gave it a go. To his surprise and grat-
itude, Trade Winds accepted him into the program. I felt like it was a
job interview for, like, a really huge company, he recalls. I felt really
intimidated, but they gave me a shot.
By NADIA MOHARIB | Photo by CURTIS TRENT
Sixteen-week pre-apprenticeship program sets up students
for success in the workforce
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 21
Trading UP
Desiree Church is a fourth-year millwright and
member of Local 1460 Alberta Millwrights.
HH_Fall14_p21-23.indd 21 2014-10-10 1:42 PM
TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Since 2006, 781 Trade Winds
students have completed the program.
P
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A
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If I didnt have Trade Winds, I dont
know where Id be. It helped me
prepare to get my foot in the door.
Jonas Soosay, scaolding apprentice
Soon after signing up for the 16-week program which offers aborig-
inals tools of the trade and prepares them for entering the workforce
Soosays plan took a detour. Unable to find a union carpenter to work with,
he opted to pursue postings for scaffolders, instead.
At the time, he didnt even know what a scaffolder was. Its building
an elevated work platform for all trades, he explains. Be it welders,
pipefitters, ironworkers, carpenters ... Im building structures and
helping out other Brothers and Sisters on the site and making sure they
are safe.
Now, Soosay, who grew up in Maskwacis, works north of Fort
McMurray with Albian Sands, earning
about $35 an hour, pretty much doubling
his cooking salary. His 10-year-old son
certainty reaps the rewards of his father
being more financially fit, which Soosay
says is a double-edged sword. I can get
things for my son I couldnt get when I
was growing up, Soosay says. Its good
and its bad because we spoil him.
But the programs benefits are not lost on him. If I didnt have Trade
Winds, I dont know where Id be, says Soosay. It helped me prepare to
get my foot in the door. If not, I would be doing temporary jobs, which is
no good; there is no future in that.
Trade Winds executive director, Deborah Munroe, knows what it
is like to feel stuck doing dead-end jobs. Ive been there. I was a single
mother of four (all under age 10) and trying to put myself through
school, she says. I wanted a better life for my children.
And in her current post she takes great satisfaction in seeing others
put themselves on a promising path. I wanted to be involved in the
front line helping people, Munroe says. I believe in what the program
does. Its an opportunity for aboriginal people.
The first six weeks of the pre-apprenticeship program focus on
trades orientation, allowing students to make an informed career
choice, followed by academic upgrading to ensure they pass the
Alberta Industry Trade Exam. This is rounded out by lectures on
topics ranging from camp life to tools of the trade. Equipped with
their personal protective equipment, students then go into a union
shop which Trade Winds pays for to be trained as everything from
boilermakers to carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, steam/pipefit-
ters, plumbers, millwrights, insulators, welders and scaffolders.
You have everything you need to start your career as an appren-
tice. Once they get out working,
they are confident and happy with
life, Munroe says. We have trained
fathers and sons and moms and sons,
had three cousins come through the
program and had two brothers in one
group. The successful clients are our
best advertising.
Initially a pilot project, Trade Winds to Success now works with an
annual budget of about $3 million and is funded by the federal and
provincial governments, as well as the Oteenow Employment and
Training Society, Rupertsland Institute, Mtis Centre of Excellence,
Community Futures Treaty Seven, ConocoPhillips, Enbridge, Shell
Canada and Total E&P Canada.
The cost of about $8,850 per student is covered. Its a win-win for
Alberta and the industry, Munroe says. For years, the industry is
saying they are coming up on a shortage of skilled workers aboriginal
people are the fastest growing population in Canada.
Desiree Church, now a fourth-year millwright and member of
Local 1460 Alberta Millwrights, says she wouldnt have made it with-
out the program. The 32-year-old from Manitoba, who has her child
22 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p21-23.indd 22 2014-10-10 1:42 PM
For years, the industry is saying they
are coming up on a shortage of skilled
workers aboriginal people are the
fastest growing population in Canada.
Deborah Munroe , Trade Winds executive director
and youth-care diploma and worked with at-risk children, came out to
Alberta to toil in camp kitchens after being unable to find work in her
field. But she soon realized there was a more promising career
world waiting.
When I was cooking I would talk to people working at the plant and
realized they were making a lot more money than me, putting in the
same time, Church says. I realized
I was on the wrong side of the food
counter.
For Church there was no looking
back, she says. It helped me to be
independent I can take care of
myself, she says of her millwright
career. Ive done pretty well. I had
some student loans, some car loans and Im all caught up now and paid
off my new car. I want to buy a home eventually.
Not discounting her own hard work, she says the Trade Winds
program was a pivotal partner. I would have never succeeded
without it, she says. It got me familiar with the tools, the tricks of
the trade you know what to expect when you get there; you are not
thrown in there and (told) Good luck. The day I was supposed to be
finished I got a job.
The bulk of Trades Winds students sign up for carpentry, followed
by pipefitters, plumbers and then boilermakers at least a quarter, like
Church, are women. When I started, there were two or three women;
now I get a class of 20 and there will be five, Munroe says.
Since April 2012, there have been 1,043 applicants to the program,
with 479 having been assessed and 347 of those starting the program.
Don Finley, Edmontons project manager at Trade Winds, says
one reason the program works is because it considers the individual
challenges of students, which can include everything from housing to
transportation to putting food on the table.
If you have lived in a very small community in northern
Alberta and all of a sudden you are in
Edmonton and you have only Grade
9 or 10 and now you want to be an
apprentice, where do you start? he
asks. We take them from Day 1. We
take the time to deal with people and
their problems.
He says the program pays partic-
ular attention to the challenges of aboriginal workers. We found
aboriginal people get into the trades, but 10 years later they are still a
first-year welder, he says, adding the program helps students focus
on short- and long-term goals. Sometimes you just need help, says
Finley, clearly passionate about doing his part toward students
success.
When you see them get past it they come in with their new
truck or new girlfriend or they are getting married its a wonderful
feeling inside.
Munroe also counts herself among the Trade Winds success
stories. I went from $5 an hour to an executive director in 10 years,
she says. I was lucky enough the board believed in me to run the
program and the rest is awesome.
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LOCAL 2103 CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS PARTY
HH_Fall14_p21-23.indd 23 2014-10-10 1:42 PM
A : b u l l d o z e r
Geared Up By MARTIN DOVER
Work smarter, not harder
HOODIES WITH HEAT
Cold work sites are about to get a few degrees
warmer, with a new line of heated gear from
DeWalt launched in September. Latest
additions to the 20V MAX/12V MAX line
include a khaki 3-in-1 heated jacket with a
hood, womens heated jacket with removable
hood and two heated hoodie styles.
Through our research, we learned that pro-
fessionals were looking for more cold-weather
jacket styles to wear on and off the job site, says
Mark Emmerson, lead category manager, DeWalt Canada.
With the expansion of our current heated gear line, we are
able to accommodate professionals and have also added
womens jackets for use on the job site as well as during
outdoor activities.
The 3-in-1 khaki jackets and hooded sweatshirts are
equipped with three core heating zones on the left and right
chest as well as mid-back, while the womens jacket includes
these three heating zones, plus a fourth on the collar.
Improvements in this line of outdoor wear, which retails
for between $129 and $289 each, were based on customer
feedback and include a stronger metal zipper, reinforced
stitching on cuffs, built-in wind guard and metal snaps instead
of Velcro to attach the hood. An adaptor extension allows
wearers to keep the battery in the front or rear pocket.
All kits come with a DCB107 20V MAX charger, USB power
source and a lithium battery. Sizes available include small
through extra-large.
For more information, visit dewalt.com or follow DeWalt
on Twitter or Facebook.
TUNE IN WITH BLUETOOTH
Tuning into music on the job just came into radio range
with the advent of DeWalts new DCR002 Bluetooth Radio
Adaptor. Compatible with most major brands of job site
radios, the device gives users the ability to transform any
radio with an auxiliary input into a Bluetooth-compatible
radio. Workers can wirelessly stream music from their own
mobile phones or other Bluetooth-compatible devices, while
keeping their phones or devices safely on their person and
accessible at all times.
The DCR002 Bluetooth Radio adaptor comes complete
with a mounting clip and two mounting strip options: Velcro
and industrial adhesive, depending on the level of perma-
nence desired for mounting the device.
The device also comes with a USB charging port compatible
with most cellphones, and carries a broadcast range of up to
100 feet. Available wherever DeWalt products are sold, the
DCR002 retails for $49.99.
For more information, visit dewalt.com.
DITCH THE DRILL
Having to keep a toolbox
full of manual screwdrivers
or a larger, high-powered
drill is a thing of the past, thanks to
Porter-Cables new cordless 8V MAX Impact
Screwdriver. Excellent for smaller fastening jobs,
the 6.48-inch, 1.42-pound tool is light and easy to
manoeuvre, while delivering high-impact fastening.
Equipped with a quick-load chuck and a built-in
LED to shed some light on the work area, the lithium
battery-powered screwdriver is all you will need.
Meanwhile, magnetic tip holders help keep bits from getting
lost. Available at Lowes stores across Canada, the 8V Max
Impact Screwdriver retails for $49.99.
For more information, visit portercable.com.
24 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p24-25.indd 24 2014-10-10 1:21 PM
1 A
2 B
3
C
4 D
5
E
6
F
7 G
8
H
9
I
10
J
11
K
Backhoe loader
Bulldozer
Compactor
Concrete mixer
Crane
Dump truck
Excavator
Forklift
Grader
Telescopic handler
Wrecking ball
Levels the ground before a road is paved
Lifts heavy materials to the tops of tall buildings
Used to lift and transport materials, especially in warehouses
Has a boom that extends forward and up from the vehicle, with end attachments
A crawler that pushes rubble
Rolls and mixes concrete
Used to demolish buildings
Hardens the ground as it presses soil, stones and asphalt.
Used for transporting loose material
Digs from the back and shovels from the front
Has many uses but is primarily used for digging
A n s w e r K e y : 1 - J , 2 - E , 3 - H , 4 - F , 5 - B , 6 - I , 7 - K , 8 - C , 9 - A , 1 0 - D , 1 1 - G A : b u l l d o z e r
Kid Zone
Q: What construction vehicle do farm animals like? (Answer below)
Matching Game
Match the heavy equipment to the description
Draw a line from the number to the correct letter
START
FINISH
Plow your way through the city sctreets!
Snow Maze
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 25
HH_Fall14_p24-25.indd 25 2014-10-15 2:42 PM



Meet the Instructor
P
H
O
T
O
:

C
U
R
T
I
S

T
R
E
N
T
By ERICA VIEGAS
im Archers millwrighting career has spanned
50 years. Having grown up a on farm outside Notting-
ham, England, he was always mechanically minded and
jumped at the chance to apprentice in the coal mines once he
graduated from high school. But he had often heard of a growing
economy and more opportunity for the trade in Canada. In
1969, he took a leap of faith, moving to Edmonton to work in the
construction industry and joining the millwright union a few
years later.
I enjoyed the variety of work in Canada, but in the 1980s
there was a huge downturn in every trade industry here, says
Archer. I knew I could either sit around waiting for things to
turn around, or become a bit more versatile.
Archer saw an advertisement for a millwright instructor at
NAIT, and with his qualifications from the United Kingdom
which included some engineering courses he filled the role
well. When his family moved to Calgary, he was able to take on a
teaching position at SAIT Polytechnic.
For Archer, teaching students about fieldwork comes
naturally. Over my career I have worked on a huge variety of
equipment in pulp mills, the oil patch, fiberglass plants and
in the power generator business, he says. If taught properly,
students can have the skills on work on any machine in the
country, and that means that work can be different every day,
throughout your career.
When the Local 1460 Millwright union in Edmonton was
looking for instructors, Archer, already a member, was eager.
A trade school has a definite curriculum you have to cover,
says Archer. By teaching with the local, I have been able to help
create courses that cater to the specific needs of members. The
upgrade classes offered by the union are generally taught to
millwrights who already have their journeyman ticket, so they
are learning because they want to, not because they have to.
With his vast experience, Archer finds that he is easily able
to relate to student stories and questions about different sites
and industries. One particular job that sticks out for him as a
personal career highlight is a six-month contract in Puerto Rico,
JIM ARCHER
By teaching with the local, I have
been able to help create courses
that cater to the specific needs of
members.
J
Decades of Service
working on turbines for General Electric.
These days, while Archer occasionally takes on site-supervisor roles, his
main focus is teaching. He has helped to create courses in rigging, machinery
alignment, compressors and turbines.
His active lifestyle is part of what still keeps him going. I stayed in
Alberta because I love the mountains. I do a lot of mountain climbing and
cycling and I think thats given me the energy to keep working in other
areas too. His eight grandchildren also help to keep him active.
Asked when he might stop teaching, Archer says with a smile: Ill keep
doing it until I stop enjoying it.
26 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p26-27.indd 26 2014-10-10 1:28 PM



Meet the Apprentice
P
H
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T
O
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D
A
R
R
Y
L

P
R
O
P
P
DONALD FREY
By MARTIN DOVER
onald Frey may have gotten his start on his
carpentry career slightly later in life, but its in many ways
a trade he came by honestly.
I have two fathers, really, and both of my fathers work in the
construction field, says the 44-year-old second-year carpentry
apprentice, noting both his biological dad and the man who raised
him knew their way around a tool box. I have always been more of
a hands-on guy for learning, rather than through a book.
A father himself of an almost-five-year-old daughter, this
Chicago native came to Canada for love. When his marriage didnt
work out, Frey says having a trade to fall back on was a huge help
through that emotionally trying time in his life.
When he is not stacking up his hands-on learning through
courses at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre in Edmonton,
Frey works with Delmar Construction on commercial and
residential projects, where he has been employed since emigrating
from the U.S. a half-decade ago.
Its basically a free education, and I told myself I wont pass up
a free education; its also the only way that guarantees me a raise,
explains Frey.
Frey likes the camaraderie that comes with working in the trades.
The relationship building with other trades is the best part, says
the Local 1325 member, who also happens to be a ticketed massage
therapist.
While he says the latter certification does lead to constant rib-
bing by his fellow Brothers and Sisters, he takes it in stride and its
a path he still pursues part time. You cant get [massage] clientele
overnight, but you can get 40 hours working in construction, he
explains. I am recognized up here, so I do some massage therapy
on the side.
Frey first heard about the ACTC through a colleague. He said
Go to the carpenters union, so I joined for backup in case I got let
go from work. Then I found out I could take courses for $10, and if
I passed, that would guarantee me a $3- to $6-an-hour raise every
time I went to school. Thats like going to school for free.
I like being able to see what I have done
and be amazed that I can actually build
something.
After writing his provincial exam, Frey hopes to return to his con-
struction job full-time on an Edmonton job site this fall, where, like
at the ACTC, he enjoys the satisfaction of seeing his work come
to fruition. We are building a shed right now. I have built a stool;
I have built a tool box. I like being able to see what I have done and be
amazed that I can actually build something; its just nice being able
to do that.
D
Lifelong Learner
This carpentry apprentice traded in his massage therapy practice for a tool belt
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 27
HH_Fall14_p26-27.indd 27 2014-10-10 1:28 PM
Training and Apprenticeship
Len J. Bryden,
Director of Training and Apprenticeship
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
lbryden@abcarptc.ab.ca
REPORT
all is upon us, and what a great, busy summer we had full of
employment, jobs on the dispatch and packed training centres! Toronto
hosted the National Apprenticeship Contest (NAC) at the end of August,
and our carpenter contestant, 1325 member Chad Gerrits, took home third place
overall in Canada. Congratulations to Chad on a great job! Our millwright brother,
Evan Polok, also took home second place for Alberta, so congratulations to you
both (for more information, see the story and photos on page 18).
Its always an impressive event. The NAC enjoyed its 22nd year and, with the
contest held directly under the CN Tower and beside the Rogers Centre, thousands
of people got to see our best new journeymen and journeywomen showcase their
skills. This years contest consisted of carpenters, millwrights, drywallers/ISM
and a new official category, floorlayers many of our jurisdictions in Canada
and the U.S. have begun training programs through our International Training
Center in Las Vegas. At the training centres here in Alberta and across Canada we
are looking at ways to incorporate some of this type of training, as well as others,
into our course schedules in the future. As you may recall, we held the NAC here in
Alberta in 2012, and I am pleased to say we have been asked to host again in 2016 in
Edmonton. I will be looking for volunteers.
We now have an additional training centre in Edmonton, the Alberta Carpenters
Training Centres Centre West Campus. We welcomed our first level-one scaffold
class into the new facility on September 15. There is still some work to be done over
the next few months, and our students will be lending a hand as required in setting
up. We have 3,000 square-feet of classroom and administrative/student space and
approximately 12,000 square-feet of open shop space. As a result, we were able to
increase the number of scaffold classes we offer, and have plans for other types of
training, such as door hardware installation, concrete forms to help our members
and contractors get the job done better.
Keep checking www.abcarptc.ab.ca to see what training is available in any one
of our four Alberta centres. On that note, please be aware that we have run many
scaffold classes over the past few months with empty seats. If you are looking
for scaffolding training, its always a good idea to keep in touch with the training
centres registration department to see if there are any openings or cancellations.
And as no-shows are still a problem, we are looking at increasing the no-show fees
significantly to try to stem this unacceptable issue that affects other members who
are ready, willing and able to take their required training.
We now have Period 1 and 2, eight-week Alberta Apprenticeship carpentry
training programs available in Edmonton to members and to the general public.
We are also having issues filling those classes to capacity. We need more appren-
tices in carpentry to fill the growing number of retiring members. Call me and
I will tell you the advantages of having an interprovincial Red Seal in carpentry
in Canada and this international carpenters
union. Our contractors need future skilled
carpentry leaders in the field, and you will be
in high demand. Our training fund has always
paid for members tuition and other costs.
Whats stopping you?
After such a busy last few years and no
slowdowns in sight, I want to say thanks to our
entire ACTC administrative staff, as they are
our front-line responders to your questions and
needs. A special thanks to my office manager
and assistant administrator Kim Belbin, for the
great work she does for the whole organization.
I would also like to thank our committed team
of 11 full-time instructors in four training cen-
tres, and a very busy support staff technician
who put their all into teaching our members and
apprentices something new every single day.
There are so many benefits we have as mem-
bers of this organization to be grateful for. Lets
not forget that as we keep pushing forward into
what we all hope is a mild winter.
But this is Alberta, after all.
F
Local apprentices
shine in the
national spotlight
28 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
HH_Fall14_p28-29.indd 28 2014-10-10 1:13 PM
Local 1460 Millwrights REPORT
Bob Hugh,
Senior Business Representative
Local 1460 Millwrights
s set out under the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act,
millwrighting is a designated trade with a Registered Apprenticeship
Program (RAP).
One of the primary benefits of apprenticeship is that it allows large numbers
of workers to enter into a trade that they may not otherwise have access to.
People without the financial resources to fund post-secondary education can
develop skills that increase their earning potential. Participating in a Registered
Apprenticeship Program allows an apprentice to earn while they learn.
There are approximately 248 member apprentices in Local 1460, with another
81 in probationary status. A probationary starting apprentice must work a
minimum of 480 hours and complete two days of training at the Millwrights
Training Centre prior to joining the local as a full member.
Our local participates in two worthwhile programs Trade Winds to Success
and Helmets to Hardhats. Both of these programs are focused on apprenticeship
opportunities within our trade. You can read more about the history of the Trade
Winds program and its relationship with our Local starting on page 21.
The key to success is employment opportunities for first-year apprentices.
We are promoting the use of more apprentices with both our contractors and
their clients. The Building Trades of Alberta recently held a conference titled,
Workforce under Construction: Turning Research into Action. The outcomes
from this conference will enhance the employment potential for all of our
apprentices and will help our local to recruit, train and supply the needs of our
contractors and their clients into the near future.
A
Millwright Apprentices:
Skilled, Respected
and In Demand
MILLWRIGHT LOCAL 1460 APPRENTICES AND MEMBERS
TOTAL: 329
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year Probationary
81 61 48 58 81
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 29
HH_Fall14_p28-29.indd 29 2014-10-10 2:12 PM
30 HARDHAT | FALL 2014
Parting Shot
The former Esso (now Imperial Oil) refinery was built in 1976 in the Strathcona,
constructed to replace older refineries in Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg and Calgary.
The structure was damaged by fire in 2007, leaving the refinery temporarily at reduced
capacity. Today the refinery has a capacity of 187,000 barrels of crude a day and employs
a staff of about 430 workers. The facility produces petroleum products including
gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel, lubricating oils, as well as petroleum waxes, heavy
fuel oil and asphalts, and is the only producer of lubricating base oil and waxes in
Western Canada.
Imperial Oil Refinery
HH_Fall14_p30-32.indd 30 2014-10-10 1:10 PM
FALL 2014 | HARDHAT 31
In Memoriam
Training + Events
UPCOMING
ARCCAW notes with sorrow the
passing of the following members.
MEETINGS

First Wednesday of each month:
Local 1325 meeting
Third Thursday of each month:
Local 2103 meeting
Fourth Tuesday of each month:
Local 1460 meeting
TRAINING
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
The following is a sample of training courses
that are open for registration at the time of
publication of this edition of Hard Hat.
For full listing or more information on
training courses, visit abcarptc.ab.ca or phone
the Edmonton oce at 780-455-6532 or toll-free
at 1-877-455-6532.
All courses are at the Edmonton location
unless otherwise indicated.
OSSA Conned Space Entry and Monitor: Oct.31
Scaolding Journeyman Upgrade:
Nov. 3-Dec. 5, 2014
Scaolding Level One: Oct. 6-24, 2014
Scaolding Level Three: Nov. 17- Dec. 12, 2014
Pre- Employment Carpentry Program (TWTS):
Nov. 17- Jan. 23, 2015
Forklift / Zoom Boom (Power Industrial Truck
Operator): Nov. 17-18, 2014
Aerial Work Platform: Nov. 19-20, 2014
Calgary

OSSA Fall Protection: Nov. 1, 2014
Pre-Employment Carpentry Program (TWTS):
Nov. 3-9, 2014
MILLWRIGHTS TRAINING CENTRE
Visit www.albertamillwrights.com
for a current listing of training courses available.
LOCAL 1325
Robert Alger
June 29, 2014
Age 85

Briean Antione
September 13, 2014
Age 19

Sheldon A. Bury
September 25, 2014
Age 45

Helder Rumor Ferreira
September 17, 2014
Age 38

Larry B. Fowlie
July 15, 2014
Age 56

Hector C. Hery
September 1, 2014
Age 64

Said Kadri
July 19, 2014
Age 51

Shayne B. Radloff
June 20, 2014
Age 55
Christopher T. Wood
August 13, 2014
Age 25
LOCAL 1460
David Hooper
March 18, 2014,
Age 65
Daniel St. Pierre
July 26, 2014,
Age 57
David Biollo
Aug 15, 2014,
Age 89
LOCAL 2103
Greg Wall
July 20, 2014,
Age 40
HH_Fall14_p30-32.indd 31 2014-10-15 2:44 PM
000HH-WD40-FP.indd 1 2014-09-18 2:14 PM HH_Fall14_p30-32.indd 32 2014-10-10 1:10 PM