Youth training program grows by 11% in one year

Increasing numbers of Burnaby high school students are joining a trade apprenticeship program, allowing them to work and train in a trade during their last two years of school. In Grades 11 and 12, Burnaby students can apply to the Youth Work in Trades program, and after a selection process that includes interviews with the students and their families, they begin training in their chosen trade.

Students who can maintain a high academic standing during their program and complete the requirements for their training can receive a $1,000 grant. They can use the grant to buy new equipment for their trade or to further their education or training. 

According to the school district’s website, students who join the program start post-secondary training during high school, complete 480 hours of paid work, and earn 16 graduation credits. While most apprenticeships take three to four years, the students complete the first level of training during high school. 

Nick Christofides, director of instruction, Safe and Caring Schools said the school district created this program in response to a labour shortage forecast in the early 2000s. The program started as the ACE-IT Program in 2005 and provided training in four trades programs: auto service technician, carpentry and framing, hairstyling, and professional cooks. It has since grown to provide opportunities in 25 trades, with Christofides hoping to add even more in the near future. 

Most of the programs are Industry Training Authority (ITA) red-seal trades. Red-seal trades are governed by regulations under the Provincial and Territorial Apprenticeship Acts. Students can also receive industry training for skilled trades needed in Burnaby that are not considered red-seal programs. Christofides gave examples of industry training programs such as film, graphics, robotics, tourism, fitness, sound recording, health sciences, and digital animation.

“Over the last five years, it has consistently grown from the 150 to the 180 range up to around 300 for this year,” Christofides said about enrollment numbers in the program. He added that last year’s cohort was 270 students; this year, 300 are enrolled, an 11% increase from last year. Nine students received the $1,000 grant last year. 

One of the challenges faced by the school district is providing training at Burnaby schools, where space is limited. Some programs are based in community colleges or other educational institutes, such as the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). 

“Burnaby is growing, and classroom space has become a commodity,” Christofides said. He added that the program’s growth is partly due to the district’s partnerships with community colleges, technical institutes, and associations. 

Malcolm Herdman, 20, is a graduate of the program and is currently working as an electrician on the installation of heating controls at St. Paul’s Hospital construction site in downtown Vancouver. Herdman started his program in 2020 during the pandemic. When he began, he and his coworkers had to abide by social distancing and masking rules. 

Herdman was one of the Youth Work in Trades program graduates to receive the $1,000 award from the ITA. Herdman said the program involved a lot of hard work and personal sacrifices, especially during the pandemic.

“When I went for this program, I had to leave my old school behind to go to my new one to join this program, which means I was left alone much earlier, and I didn’t have many friends to hang out with, and unfortunately, that did stunt the amount of friends I have compared to others,” Herdman said. “That’s probably the biggest hurdle I had. Basically, you left everything you knew when you had to try something new.” 

Despite the social challenges involved in joining the program during the pandemic and sacrificing socialization opportunities, Herdman believes the program was a push ahead for him.   

“I think the biggest benefit would be a head start,” he said. “I’m leaps and bounds ahead of most other people my age. I’ve found a stable career and a good income, and I’ve managed to save money for eventually, hopefully, a home.”

This piece was made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.

Like what you just read? Do you support local journalism? Help us keep going—and growing.

Sign up for our once a week newsletter, or become an Insider to show your love for local reporters and writers.