hard hat - fall 2013
TRANSCRIPT
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Uniting ARCCAW members across Alberta Fall 2
Christmaspartiesingolftournamentresults;administratiobuildingupdate
Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40063788 Return undeliverable mail to 200-15210 123 Ave Edmonton,AB T5V 0A3
Camp life is more enjoyable for workersthanks to one Local 2010 shop
Around the NationA recap of the Canada CouncilConvention held in Newfoundland
The Art of BoomNew courses will give membersan advantage on the jobsite
A Perfect PartnershipTraining Centre nails togetherTrade Winds program andHabitat for Humanity
ComfortZone
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HARDHATFALL2013
Executive Secretary Treasurers REPORT
Martyn A. Piper
We Need Your Voice
his is a response strongly opposing
the application by a group calling itself
the Provisional Committee For The
Industrial Scaffold Technician a group seek-
ing to have something they call the Industrial
Scaffold Technician declared a Designated
Occupation.
The Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters
and Allied Workers (ARCCAW) represents
about 9,000 scaffolders in Alberta. Our contrac-
tor partners are also opposed to a Designated
Occupation and employ a majority of the indus-trial scaffolders as well as every other sector
where scaffolding is utilized.
The ARCCAW ensures that workers we represent,
including scaffolders, receive the best training pos-
sible. The UBC has invested $100 million in a 400,000
square foot International Training Center (ITC) in Las
Vegas where staff from our Unions many training cen-
tres receive world-class instruction. Union members
do not pay for training and upgrading courses, even if
they attend programs at the ITC.
The ARCCAW also established a $23 million facility
in Edmonton that includes two state-of-the-art scaf-folding halls as well as additional training centres in
Calgary and Fort McMurray. Since 2003 we have had
5,000 students attend the three-week scaffold training
course, which is required per year and after completing
1,300 field hours. First, second and third year appren-
ticeship classes are offered on an ongoing basis along
with a journeyman upgrading program. Our training
component is strictly enforced and is the envy of many
trade apprenticeship programs, as there is no advance-
ment until completing the classes. Our dropout rate is
minimal and we are extremely proud of our retention
rates. We take scaffolding seriously.
The ACTC is funded by the Alberta Carpenters
Training Fund, which is funded through employer
contribution and collective agreements. Current
funding for training, including scaffold training, is
$0.55 for every hour an employee works in industrial
construction for a contractor bound to the Collective
Agreement, and $0.10 for every hour worked in non-
industrial construction. Employers also contribute
$0.55 to training per every hour worked under the
Unions Maintenance Agreements. Yearly, the fund
invests over $5 million into training, a good portion
dedicated to scaffolding.
Thanks to the fund we have been able to develop
and provide one of the most comprehensive scaffolder
apprenticeship programs in the world. Our dedication
to the completion of apprenticeship is reinforced by our
commitment to the various apprenticeship competi-
tions. Employers and contractors in Alberta recognize
the need for a trained, professional and safe workforce.Together, the Union and its contractor partners have
trained thousands of scaffolders and plan to train thou-
sands more. The owner/clients have made it very clear
that anything less than a properly-trained professional
is unacceptable and its not uncommon for contrac-
tors to ask our members to present credentials before
starting work. Even in many non-union settings, our
ARCCAW standard is the certification that contrac-
tors look for, and by doing so their workplace is safer.
Allowing anything less in the scaffolding industry is
not acceptable.
The goal of the Provisional Committee to havean Occupational Designation of Industrial
Scaffold Technician will do exactly the opposite
of Apprenticeship and Industry Trainings v ision
and mission statement of ensuring highly skilled
workers and a high quality of training and certifi-
cation standards.
Giving employers the authority to issue different
levels of apprenticeship or journeyperson status wont
promote highly skilled people in the scaffolding trade,
nor will it establish a high quality of training and certi-
fication. If the industry is going to consider any kind of
designation, then we must aspire to the highest levels
of safety and competence rather than reducing stan-
dards to the lowest common denominator. Scaffolding
is one of the at-risk professions and if done by inex-
perienced hands can have extremely negative safety
consequences. The Union, along with our contractor
partners, has heavily invested to develop a scaffold
training program of the highest standards to produce
skilled, knowledgeable and safe scaffolders. The ACTC
scaffolding program is the benchmark for the scaffold
industry in Alberta. We are opposed to any recognition
less than the high standard we demand of our scaffold-
ers, in industrial or any other areas.
T
The plan for this Occupational Designation does
not make sense. There is a significant public inter-
est in this debate, particularly with respect to safetyand its not limited to industrial construction. One
notorious example is the 2010 incident where a per-
son employed in scaffolding was videotaped tossing
a scaffold clamp while perched many metres above
street level. That incident, involving an employee of
a member contractor of the Provisional Committee,
took place on what is termed a commercial project
the Bow Tower in Calgary.
Our contractor partners represent a
significant majority of the people employed
in the scaffold industry. We wish it to be
abundantly clear that together we are opposedto the Provisional Committees attempt to
have a Designated Occupation of Industrial
Scaffold Technician.We are not opposed,
in principle, to recognizing that scaffolding
requires a distinct skill set, nor are we opposed to
establishing criteria required for certification of
competency in all areas of work where scaffolding
is utilized. However, it is our position that the
occupation should remain as it currently is
undesignated, or if it is to be designated, only as a
Compulsory Certif ication Trade.
Having a Designated Occupation of an
Industrial Scaffold Technician will not benefit
anyone in the scaffolding industry. Instead it will
result in a diminishing standard of skill, knowl-
edge and safety to the detriment of workers and
the industry.
Starting October 30, visit these survey links
and express your opposition to the Designated
Occupation of an Industrial Scaffold Technician.
Employees Link:www.banister.ab.ca/AEAEscaffold
eremployeesurvey
Employers Link:www.banister.ab.ca/AEAEscaffold
eremployerssurvey
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HARDHAT FALL 2013
Edmonton 780-471-3200 FortMcMurray 780-743-1442 Calgary 403-283-0747 CarpentersTrainingCentre 780-455-6532 CarpentersHealthandWelfare 780-477-9131 CarpentersPension 780-477-9131 IndustrialWorkers 403-283-0747 MillwrightLocal1460 780-430-1460 LocalUnion1325and2103Dispatch 1-888-944-0818
PublisHeD FoR:
Alberta Regional Council ofCarpenters & All ied Workers
15210 123 AvenueEdmonton, Alberta T5V 0A3
Tel: (780) 474-8599 / Fax: (780) 474-8910
ww w.albertacarpenters.com
PublisHeD by:
VenturePublishingInc.
10259105StreetEdmonton,AlbertaT5J1E3
Toll-free:1-866-227-4276Phone:(780)990-0839Fax:(780)425-4921
ww w.venturepublishing.ca
PublisHeR
Ruth Kelly
AssociATe PublisHeR
Joyce Byrne
ARccAW eDiToR
MartynA.Piper
DiRecToR oF cusTom conTenT
MiPurvis
eDiToR
JordanWilkins
ART DiRecToR
CharlesBurke
AssociATe ART DiRecToR
AndreadeBoer
AssisTAnT ART DiRecToR
ColinSpence
PRoDucTion cooRDinAToR
Betty-LouSmith
PRoDucTion TecHniciAnsBrentFelzien,BrandonHoover
conTRibuTing WRiTeRs
John Hardy, Tricia Radison, Scott Rollans,Robin Schroel, Matt Smith
conTRibuTing PHoTogRAPHeRs
AnD illusTRAToRs
Ryan Girard, Greg Halinda, Joey Podlubny,Kelly Redinger
Vice-PResiDenT, sAles
AnitaMcGillis
ADVeRTising RePRes enTATiVe
KathyKelley
sAles AssisTAnTs
JuliaEhli
Contents2013byARCCAWInc.Nopartofthispublicationshouldbereproduced
withoutwrittenpermission.
Important Phone Numbers
18
Fall 13
Contents
9
on THe coVeR:Local 2010 consists of wall-to-wall
membership at PTI Travcos shop in NiskuPHOTO: Kelly Redinger
FEATURES
10 ft@wrkWere all looking for balance in our l ives
but will ba lance help us achieve our goals?
By Matt Smith
12 str FdatLocal 2010 at PTI/Travco make camp life
for workers more comfortable
By John Hardy
18 Va AdddNew courses provide members with
more to offer contractors, which means
more opportunity
By Tricia Radison
20 mr Tha Jt chd PaTrade Winds program meets Habitat for
Humanity and the result is two elegantly
built playhouses
By Scott Rollans
DEPARTMENTS
4 nt Fr th extvsrtar TrarrBy Martyn Piper
6 st lProvincial and National Competitions;
golf tournament; WCB turns 100
15 gard upTools to help you work better
22 o th lv
23 Ard th nat
24 itrtr updat
25 mt th Apprt
26 Tra & Apprthp RprtBy Len Bryden
28 KdZBack to school
29 la 1460 mwrht RprtBy Bob Hugh
30 Part sht
31 Tra & evt; i mra
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This year marks the 100th anniversaryof the advent of the
workers compensation system in Canada. It was in 1913 when Sir
William Ralph Meredith, who later became chief justice of Ontario, de-
livered his now-famed Final Report to the Ontario legislature, ushering
in the era of modern workers compensation in Canada.
Industrialized Canada in the early 20th century was a dangerous
place. Health and safety standards had not yet been established. Acci-
dents causing serious injury or death were not uncommon, especially
in the resource and manufacturing sectors. Families were often left
destitute following the loss of the primary wage earner. At the time,
the only recourse for compensation was suing the person who caused
the injury.
But, in those days, few workers could afford to hire lawyers to sue
negligent employers or withstand the years of litigation often required
for a successful outcome. The common law also erected a number of
legal hurdles that inhibited a workers ability to recover. If the employerestablished that the worker had assumed the risk or had contributed
to the cause of injury, there might be no recovery at all.
Meredith proposed a new law that redressed the harsh inequities of
tort law. The new law would provide compensation on a no-fault basis
and eliminate the common-law barriers to recovery. No lawsuit was
required to achieve recovery and adjudication would be conducted on
an expedient basis by an agency independent of the government and
with the authority to decide all questions under the legislation. Furthermore,
employers would be called upon to fund the entirety of the system through a
collective liability or mutual insurance model, with no monetary contribution
from workers. However, workers forfeited their common-law rights to sue
their employers in exchange for no-fault coverage. Courts and lawyers were
no longer required.
The bold new system was inclusive. Under the former tort regime, only
those few workers with sufficient resources and patience to successfully sue
their employers received compensation. Under the new system, all workers
injured in a covered industry were entitled to benefits. Ontario enacted its first
workers compensation legislation in 1915. Alberta followed suit in 1918.
In the ensuing decades, there have been many changes to the workers
compensation system in Canada. The concept of immunity has expanded
to include not just a workers employer but all employers and workers in the
system. The range and level of benefits have increased dramatically since
Merediths day. Workers compensation bodies these days are multibillion-dollar enterprises and act as administrative decision-making boards.
The advent of workers compensation in Canada precedes the introduc-
tion of medicare, employment insurance, the Canada Pension Plan and even
income tax. It has a long and storied history and has undergone many changes
to meet the challenges of an evolving workplace and society. Yet the basic
principles espoused by Meredith in 1913 continue as the foundation for todays
workers compensation system.
Site Lines News in Brief A roundup of news and eventsfrom around the region
Workers Compensation Centennial
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HARDHAT FALL 2013
This years United Brotherhood of Carpenters Provincial
Apprenticeship Competition saw Calgarys Local 2103 take a clean sweep
of the top three spots. The event, which was held at the Alberta Carpen-
ters Training Centre (ACTC) in Edmonton on July 21 and July 22, featured
the best apprentices from across the province showing off their skills in
the trade. Benjamin Quintins name will be added to t he long list of cham-
pions who have won throughout the contests rich history, now spanning
more than three decades. Quintins victory earned him the opportunity
to represent Alberta at the National Apprenticeship Competition in New-
foundland on August 23 and August 24. Robert Fannon was the runner-up,
while Craig Burton rounded out the top three.
While Local 2103 swept the podium on the carpenters side, Edmon-
tons Local 1325 achieved the same for the scaffolder competition.
This event doesnt have as long a history as the Carpenters Provincial
Apprenticeship Competition does, but for the past five years scaffolding
apprentices, too, have had their chance to shine. Daniel Lefurgey came
out on top with Danielle Stark and Joshua Lewis crowned second and
third place, respectively.
I would like to thank each and every apprentice who participated in
the provincial competition this past July, says Len Bryden, director of
training and apprenticeship at the (ACTC).
Id also like to thank our instructors who participated and everyone
else who helped organize the event. Congratulations to everyone for a
job well done.
Provincial Competition
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HARDHAT FALL2013
Site Lines News in Brief A roundup of news and eventsfrom around the region
2013 National Apprenticeship Competition
results:
CARPENTRY:
1st:ChristopherRogacki(Local27,Ontario)2nd:ChadDelaney(Local579,Newfoundland)3rd:BenjaminQuintin(Local2103,Alberta)DRYWALL:
1st:JonathanMorash(Local675,Ontario)2nd:KevinRiddick(Local397,Ontario)3rd:BarryMcNeill(Local1338,PrinceEdwardIsland)
MILLWRIGHT:1st:StewartTonge(Local2262,NewBrunswick)2nd:MarkNewman(Local2039,Ontario)2nd:BradenBoake(Local1021,Saskatchewan)3rd:GarrettEllsworth(Local1009,Newfoundland)
Albertas representative for the United
BrotherhoodofCarpentersNationalAppren-
ticeshipCompetitionheldinNewfoundland
onAugust23andAugust24madehisfellow
BrothersandSistersproud.Onlytwocarpenter
apprenticesinthecountryrankedhigherthan
Local1325sBenjaminQuintin,whowalked
awaywiththirdplaceatthenationalcompeti-
tion.ChristopherRogackiofOntarioandChad
DelaneyofNewfoundlandtookhomefirstand
secondplace,respectively.Albertasmillwright
apprentice,AlbertMausolf,alsorepresentedhisprovinceproudlycompetingsidebyside
withthebestmillwrightapprenticesinCanada.
Imveryproudofeveryonewhoparticipatedin
thecompetition,saysLenBryden,directorof
trainingandapprenticeshipattheAlbertaCar-
pentersTrainingCentre.Ourapprenticesdida
greatjobandthecompetitionwasasuccess.
The Nations Best
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The conditions were excellent, recalls Martyn Piper,
executive secretary of the Alberta Regional Council of
Carpenters and Allied Workers (ARCCAW). It was the per-
fect day for a round of golf. The 13th annual Barrie Regan
Golf Tournament, held at the Legends Golf and Country
Club in Sherwood Park on July 19, was another successful
entry to the annual fundraiser for both golf-going union
members and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
The event raised over $12,000 for the organization while
142 players took to the links. Special thanks to all of the
volunteers who generously donated their time and effort
to make this annual tournament possible and continue to
support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
RESULTS:
Winning Team: Mike Dunlop, Brent Lee, Ralph Bellerose
and Graham Gagne
Longest Drive (Men): Dennis TraverseLongest Drive (Ladies): Jackie Gorde
Longest Putt (Men): Phil Acheson
Longest Putt (Ladies): Danielle Carr
Closest to the Pin: Darcy Superkoski
Fore a Great Cause
Construction Nearly DoneConstruction is almost complete on the Alberta Regional
Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers new administrative building
in Calgary. The facility will eventually be home to the administration staff
of the ARCCAW in Calgary. Located in the northeastern area of the city,just south of the Calgar y Inte rnational Airport , the new lo cation w ill be
more accessible for members using public transportation and easier
to locate than the current downtown site.
If this photo reminds you of the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre in
Edmonton, thats not a coincidence. The two buildings share the same
design firm and the Calgary facility was engineered to complement theEdmonton location. Construction is expected to be completed early next
year with staff moving in by spring.
HARDHAT FALL 2013
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ByMATT SMITH
alance. Many describe it as
working ha rd on the job while
maintaining relationships with
friends and family, all the while not taking
life too seriously. Maybe its making healthy
food choices that include fruits and veggies
while ens uri ng jun k food is limited tospecia l occasions (its OK to indulge once
in a blue moon). Or having a few beers after
work to unw ind from a chal lenging but
rewarding week of all that li fe has to offer;
after all, kicking back and having a few
laughs is what keeps us young.
We all seem to be sea rching for balance
and telling others how to find it, but does
anyone actually know what the heck they
are even saying? My def inition of balance is
going to be significantly different than my
grandmothers definition in the same waythat my definition of football is going to
differ from that of my friends in the UK.
So what is balance and what does it give
us? Some of us have a very busy and stressful
work schedule for a few months each year, but
its what allows us to take those extra months
off during summer or afford some nice gifts
for our spouse or children. Remember how
impossible that extra trip seemed that one
year? But working a bit harder made it hap-
pen. Life is less about having balance as t he
goal and more about using balance to achieve
that goal. Read that last line over again, its
very important. Every goal, lifestyle choice
or future plan is going to require different
habits, choices and sacri fices.
Ill focus on the exercise portion of
lifestyle and balance, but really it can
be introd uced into a ny area of our l ives.
Careers, relationships, even learning a
musical instrument if thats what youd like.
What y ou can define, you can create. W hat
do you want and how badly do you want it?
Practicing the guitar f ive hours a day, seven
B
Dont sacrifice your ultimate goals for the sake of finding balance
BAlAncIng AcT
ft@work
days a week doesnt exactly seem balanced to
me, but it will definitely help you become an
amazing musician.
So how does this idea of balance relate to
fitness? We all say we want six-pack abs, a
chiseled physique or the strength of a titan
but if we are being t ruly honest, most of us are
not willing to make the sacrifices required to
achieve these results. Its not because we cant
do it, its just not at all realistic with the life-
style we want to live on a regular basis. We have
errands to run, people to care for and work to
do every day. For some of us, just finding time
to sit down and eat lunch is a problem let
alone maintaining a diet that allows us to
resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The reason I use exaggerated examples such
as six-pack abs or superhuman strength is to
show that although most dont want their lives
to revolve around fitness, we need to sacri fice
in order to lose that extra bit of weight, gain
some muscle mass or just generally move
easier in day-to-day activities. E ven a simple
change is still a change. And that change needs
mental awareness to solidify itself in your cur-
rent lifestyle or else it will dissolve away like
many of our past New Years resolutions.
The biggest question we need to ask
ourselves when tryi ng to define what type of
fitness lifestyle we want is: why do I want to
achieve this goal? When we figure this out and
if it means enough to us, we can begi n to find
out what its going to take to be successful and
if we are willing to do the things necessary to
achieve it. Balance will simply ref lect what we
need to do on a regular basis to ensure we get
where we want to go.
A good example to bring t his a ll toget her
is comparing someone who wants to increase
their conditioning so they can do more hiking
with t heir fr iends and someone who wants to
climb to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Although
both basic ally involve wal king on an incli ned
surface, the two goals are vastly d ifferent.
10 HARDHAT FALL 2013
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Matt Smith, CSEP-CPT, NASM-CES
The recreational
hiker may just need to
add several hours of
weekly tra inin g into
their schedule without
really disrupting
their weekly routine.
Alt hough g oing home
after work and watch-
ing TV is going to be
replaced with some
moderately challenging
exercise a few times
a week, its really
nothing that drastic.
Sure, eating a littlehealthier to lose weight
in order to enjoy the
scenery instead of sucking
wind and s tum bling over t ree
stumps may not be ideal, but its also not going to kill you. On the
other hand climbing to the top of the world without preparat ion for
the task could very well do the trick.
A pers on wa nting to liter ally climb a mount ain wil l f igu rativel y
have to move mountains when it comes to their daily schedules.
Everything from physical preparations, survival techniques, under-
standing how to read a map and planning proper nutrition, all while
keeping in touch with your team to support each other, will be vitalin accomplishing the goal of reaching the top. Can you do all this
by simp ly mov ing yo ur week ly ni ght out with the boy s or g irls t o a
different day? That might be all that is needed for the recreational
hiker, but the future mountaineer will need an entire overhaul.
This drastic dedication may seem imbalanced to certain people,
but und ersta nd tha t when a goal is st rongly defi ned it i s bal anced in
terms of what needs to be done to accomplish it.
In the fitness world, as in ot her walks of life, i n order to achieve
your goals your lifest yle will probably not look like what most people
define as balanced. Thats OK, to achieve greatness we must strive
for greatness and do what others are not w illing to do. Dont get me
wrong, Im an advocate of living a happy life involving g reat friends,
fun hobbies and even a piece of cake once in a while, but I a lso realize
that achieving incredible results will at times require an imbalanced
lifestyle that combines a higher level of thought, sacrifice and dedica-
tion to achieve. Dont be the person who says they a re going to change
and then doesnt. Greatness is a choice. Find your own ba lance to
become great.
Life is less about having balance as thegoal and more about using balance toachieve that goal.
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12 HARDHAT FALL2013
Its all abut relatiships if u ask Gerge Wils, the
focused and personable business representative of Local 2010
at the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied
Workers. It has been a lmost eight y ears since I was a ssig ned
to represent the Local 2010 members who work at PTI/Travco in
Nisku and I have always felt that building solid relationships and
genuine two-way respect were key pa rts of the job.
Wilson is enthu siast ic about being involved in most aspec ts of
the Travco relationship because of the companys dist inctive
union workforce. I call it wall-to-wall membership because the
membership encompasses every trade - men a nd women who are
PHOTO:KELLYREDINGER
STRONGFoundationsManufacturing modularsat PTI/Travco is gratifyingfor Local 2010 because ofthe companys rock-solidrelationship with the Union
ByJoHn HARDy
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HARDHAT FALL 2013 13
forklift operators, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, sheet metal
mechanics, shipper/receivers and more, he explains. And I suppose
its a bonus, but they are really a good bunch of people.
He admits that representing Local 2010 members at PTI/Travco was
initially a bit of a learning curve but, right from the beginning, it has
been an ex perience t hat he enjoys . Wils on has been a Union member
for 35 years with a background primarily in commercial construction.
Servicing PTI/ Travco introduced him to something entirely different.
This is a very unique but dynamic, manufacturing atmosphere,
he explains. The work of our members involves all aspects of the
manufacturing process. Its a continuous learning experience and
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14 HARDHAT FALL2013
I still find it extremely interesting. Everything t hat is manufactured
here from dorms to kitchens and executive suite units is hands-
on, created by our members.The workers at PTI/Travco create modular facilities that are
shipped to places like the oil sands, giving workers there a room to
stay and a place to eat while in camp. And, while other workers are
away from home occupying the
facilities made at PTI/Travco,
these Local 2010 workers enjoy
permanent employment at the
large indoor shop. One big differ-
ence which used to be somewhat
foreign to me, with my construc-
tion background, is that this an enclosed shop. The workers come to
work and their shi fts are a way from the elements, wa rm as toa st. Its
a very nice atmosphere compared to what I was used to.
Wilson underscores t he importa nce and the va lue of maintai n-
ing his consistent presence on the shop floor and a strong rapport,
not only with his members but also with company management. And
according to Wilson, PTI/Travco is a great partner of the Union.
These are really good folks with good attitudes and dispositions,
Wilson expla ins. T he employer provides var ious extr as which just
makes it a more enjoyable place to work: like pizza for the staff, com-
plimentary coffee and a cooler with fresh fruit and chocolate. Some
of the extras, such as safety ideas, are actually ideas that originated
from Local 2010 members on the shop floor.
The company also values the mutually respectful rapport which
has developed. PTI has a very positive and productive relationship
with Loca l 2010, says Robert Maze, sen ior vice-president of PTIGroup. We all understand the competitive environment we operate
in, and the challenge all Alberta businesses face around employees,
competitiveness and safety. The Union has been an important part
of our team, helping us drive
improvements and progress.
This strong bond between
Local 2010 and PTI/Travco was
recently put to the test with
the latest collective bargaining
agreement this past summer.
This was the third that Wilson has been involved with and he says
understanding the issues and the shared, strong relationship were
vital f actors to renewi ng the deal.
Theres really no magic to collective bargaining, he explains.
There is always some good, some bad, some back-and-forth bar-
gaining, and invariably some challenges for both sides. Fortunately,
Wilson worked out a mutua lly acceptable ag reement where Local
2010 members voiced their opinion in the ratification vote and a
three-year agreement is now in place. Today Local 2010 workers at
the plant are busy and productive, enjoying the new terms and con-
ditions, with an increase in benefits, Wilson says. Negotiations are
never easy, but I can honestly say that it went a lot smoother with
PTI/Travco, mostly because of our one-of-a-kind relationship.
The workers come to work and their shiftsare away from the elements, warm as toast.
Its a very nice atmosphere, compared towhat I was used to.
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HARDHAT FALL 2013 15
Geared Up
AUTO-LOCKING TAPE
The good, old-fashioned tape rule is a timeless staple in
every pros toolbox, but its now even more indispensable
with Stanleys new FatMax auto-locking 25-foot tape rule.The FatMax combines the safety and ease of auto-locking
tape rules with professional features like 11 feet of standout,
making it an ideal product to use on the jobsite. Easy to
operate with one hand while marking with the other, the
tape blade automatically locks to extended length and
retracts while the release button is depressed, offering
maximum control. Switch over to manual mode with the
override setting, turning the FatMax into a traditional
retractable tape.
The 1.25-inch blade is coated with Mylar and BladeArmor
to extend durability and life, and comes with a detachable
True-Zero end hook system to ensure total accuracy nomatter what youre measuring. With storage for two hooks,
its easy to switch between an oversized hook for framing or
remove it altogether for regular use.
Available in home centres, mass retailers, ad hardware
stores, the FatMax sells for $24.99. For more information,
visit www.stanleytools.com.
KEEP IT TIGHT
Small spaces call for smarter tools. Get tighter access than
ever when drilling holes and driving screws in those hard-to-
reach spots thanks to Dewalts new right angle attachment.
Boasting a true 90-degree angle, the model DWARA100
was created with a mind to eliminate common issues like
retention and durability for a superior product. Its ideal for
general contractors, steel framers, and other tradespeople
who need precision access in difficult places.
At 1.75 inches long, the DWARA100 is one of the shortest
attachments on the market and is compatible with your
existing impact driver. It boasts an ergonomic, strength-
engineered plastic handle and a floating ring magnet
for fastener retention enabling perfect alignment and
holding power that works every time. The attachment also
uses impact-rated gears, ensuring long life in high-torque
Tools to help you work faster and smarter
applications. In fact, the DWARA100 was found to have five
times longer life on average than standard models.
A truly versatile attachment, it works with any drill bit,
spade bit, hex shank bit, nutdriver, and impact ready hole
saw. Find the DWARA100 right angle attachment at retailers
in Alberta for $29.99, or visit www.dewalt.com for more
information.
CLAMP UP
Condense your toolbox and protect your lumber at the same
time by choosing the new Stanley 2x4 Clamp. Designed to
replace both bar clamps and pipe clamps, the 2x4 Clamp acts
as that extra set of secure hands you need without damagingthe wood from the clamping force impact.
Light and easily transportable, the clamp stands upright
on two feet, providing balance and lift to all your projects.
It includes several innovations, like non-mar pads to keep
your work surface pristine and clean. And its 400 lbs of
clamping force increases significantly to 1,000 lbs when
bolted to a 2 x 4.
Best of all, the 2x4 Clamp works with any 2 x 4: its
length can be modified, and its heads can be inserted and
repositioned anywhere. Find the Stanley 2x4 Clamp at
home improvement centres for $24.99,
or visit www.stanleytools.com.
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Always Wear Safety Goggles. Copyright Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
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TRADITION. PRODUCTIVITY. INNOVATION.
These words are everything you know Stanley Tools represents.
This is the kind of variety, quality and innovation professional
contractors and do-it-yourselfers alike have come to expect
from Stanley, and those characteristics are clearly thought of
for every tool we offer. We work continually to design products
with real-world benefits that will see you through to the end of
job after job. Whether you are doing your first home project
or completing a full room renovation, Stanley has the toolsyou need for the job.
STANLEY. TOOLS THAT GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT.
www.stanleyhandtools.ca
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18 HARDHAT FALL2013
Value Added
t first glance, the Certified Rigger and Signaler, and
the Forklift/Zoom Boom (Power Industrial Tr uck Operator)
courses might seem unnecessary to carpenters and mill-
wrights. There was a time that you could get away with
skipping these courses. Not anymore. Contractors are mak ing it clear that
they want millwrights and carpenters who have extra training, pa rticular-
ly in rigging and forklift operation, and the Alberta Carpenters Training
Centre (ACTC) is responding to this demand by offering high-quality
courses that get members quickly caught up to speed in these new areas.
Derrick Schulte, a dispatcher with the union, hears the demand almost
daily. He says that requests for members with this ty pe of training have
skyrocketed about 40 per cent in the last couple of years. This working
with and around machinery is now a part of the everyday job and safety-
A
Courses provide carpenters and millwrights with moreto offer contractors, which means more opportunity
ByTRiCiA RADiSon
PHOTOs:ryan
girard
conscious contractors arent interested in people who arent profession-
ally trained in these areas.
Rigging and forklift operation are part of our job and to execute the
work ourselves we have to understand what were doing and how to be abl
to use the equipment, explains Schulte. These courses assure contrac-
tors we can do that work safely.
Randy Dwernychuk is an instructor who has taught the Certified Rigge
and Signaler course. He explains t hat such courses arent in place to steal
work from other trades, they are there to strengthen the existing skill
sets of members so that the union can continue to have the most efficient
workforce in the industry.
The reason we do the rigging training is so ou r workers can lift pre-
cast concrete forms, hoist lumber or scaffolding equipment, or lif t heavy
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HARDHAT FALL 2013 19
equipment, Dwernychuk says. We like to
maintain our own work and if we dont have
carpenters or millwrights on the site with t he
required training, other trades are brought ontothe site to do that work and we lose it.
The Certified Rigger and Signaler course is
a 40-hour course originally developed at the
International Carpenters Tra ining Center in
Las Vegas and is offered at the Edmonton and
Calgary ACTC locations. Over one week par-
ticipants learn about the history of rigg ing, how
to inspect and use a variety of wires, ropes and
chains, and all about slings, shackles and any
other rigging equipment you may come across at
the jobsite.
The course also covers splicing rope and ty ingknots as well as the various types of cranes. The
latter is important because it gives union mem-
bers the knowledge they need to determine
whether to use, for example, a hydraulic or lat-
tice-type crane, and what size of cra ne is best
for the part icular application. For instance, if
you have to lift a couple of tons but have to reach
far to lift it, you need a larger cra ne than if you
were lifting the same amount of weight without
having to reach over something. This kind of
knowledge has become more important to the
industry over the years as an increase in activity
brings more unfamiliar worksites, each with its
own challenges.
Ensuring members can do the work safely
is a priority for the training centre and that
means giving people enrolled in the course the
skills to calculate loads and t he practice they
need to lift things properly. Instructors provide
participants with tables and formulas to cal-
culate weight and centre of gravity so they can
lift items straight up and with as little horizon-
tal movement as possible. They also learn how
to calculate how much weight is pulling on the
slings to determine if they have the right size of
sling for the load and to determine the rigging
hardware.
If you are picking something up a nd youdont know how heavy it is, thats when acci-
dents happen, says Dwernychuck. When we
teach people to pick something up it comes
straight up; it doesnt swing sideways and drift
around. We have all the rigging hardware, slings,
shackles, everything they need for practicing.
Dwernychuk also makes sure that students
know the proper hand signals used in t he indus-
try so they can communicate with other workers
while operating a crane.
This kind of fusion between hands-on train-
ing and critical t heoretical knowledge is alsoan integral part of the two-day Forklift/Zoom
Boom (Power Industrial Truck Operator)
course. And, as always, t he instructors take the
course very seriously.
This is not just a little classroom course
that you automatically pass, says instructor
Leonard Lopatynski. There is a full day in the
classroom learning about the equipment, cover-
ing how to operate the equipment, safety issues
and equipment inspections. If you dont pass the
exam, you dont get to operate the equipment.
To ensure that all pa rticipants get enough
time on the forklift a nd zoom boom, which are
both owned by the ACTC, class size for this
course is limited to a maximum of 10 students.
That gives each student suff icient time on each
piece of equipment, manoeuvring through a n
obstacle course and doing picks as set up by
the instructor. Students who dont feel entirely
comfortable after t heir first ru n are welcome to
repeat after everybody is finished. This ensures
that everyone who takes the program will be
comfortable operating the equipment when its
needed on the jobsite.
Lopatynski, who also teaches a similar
course on aerial work platform and scissor
lift operation, has more than t hree decades
of field experience and, during that time,has taken his fair share of train ing, too. He
is impressed with the quality of the course,
which, like the Certified Rigger and Signaler
course, is the exact training t hat international
trainers deliver at the Las Vegas facility.
You learn a diverse amount of material and
you leave knowing that you can safely oper-
ate the equipment. I sat in on another facilitys
course that had 24 students who got tickets for
four pieces of equipment in one day. This is not
anything like t hat, he says.
With forklift and zoom boom operationand rigging and signaling training under their
belts, members dont have to wait for other
trades to move the material theyre working
on. Its something thats always happened on
the jobsite; learning to operate equipment
out of necessity or learning riggi ng from one
another. But these days with an increased
focus on safety, workers must be profession-
ally trained to do these kinds of jobs, and that
training must go beyond just five or 10 min-
utes at the site before using the equipment.
Members with these courses working for
contractors will have a lot more opportu-
nity for work, longer-term employment and
opportunities for transfer from site to site,
says Schulte. Every opportunity to ga in more
knowledge is valuable for our members and
makes them more employable.
Ultimately, having courses like these
available adds value for contractors and un ion
members alike, ensuring that carpenters
and millwrights can meet the needs of
industry while operating equipment as
safely as possible.
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20 HARDHAT FALL2013
playful idea has turned into a memorable project at the
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC) in Calgary
this fall. Students with Trade Winds for Success (a 16-
week pre-apprenticeship Aboriginal training program)
have been testing their carpentry skills by building two gorgeous and
elaborate playhouses. Once theyre finished, the houses will be r aff led
off by Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta.
The project is the brainchild of Shane Whitmore, a long-time fixt ure
with the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers
(ARCCAW). For some time, Whitmore had been mulling over ideas
for supporting Habitat, a well-known charity that builds a ffordable
housing for families looking to own their own home. Recently, while
Habitat for Humanity playhouse fundraiser
builds some serious skills
A
By ScoTT RollAnS
his daughter chatted with him about getting a playhouse for her son, the
light bulb went off. It just clicked, recalls Whitmore. I called up Sandi
Ferchau at Habitat for Humanity and talked to her about the idea, and she
fell in love with it right away.
Whitmores next call was to Len Bryden, director of training and
apprenticeship at the ACTC in Edmonton. Whitmore hoped to borrow
some space in the Calgar y shop and to wra ngle his own crew of volunteers
to build the playhouses on weekends. However, Bryden pushed it one step
further. Len said, Ive got a Trade Winds to Success course starting right
away in Calgary. We could do the playhouses as a project for the students.
And just like that, the project landed in the lap of Trade Winds course
instructor Hughie Bruce. Br uce jokes about being unwittingly sucked into
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HARDHAT FALL 2013 21
instill union values. The job let them experience the union way of
cooperation, of working as a team. Also, the value of volunteering and
helping others.
Twenty-five-year-old Albert Rowan, one of Bruces Trade Winds
students, says hes definitely taking away a lot from the project. I learned
quite a bit, he explains, like how to build a floor frame on the ground,
if you have to move a structure after its built. And [how to build] door
openings, windows, how to frame walls and roofs. We did a lot of hands-ontool experience, and a lot of power tools. At the same time, Rowan says,
the nature of the project brought out the kid in all of them. It was actually
quite fun.
Whitmore says hes not at all surprised by the stunning results. Hughie
Bruce is a perfectionist, so I knew it would turn out perfectly, he says.
Whitmore is also quick to credit others for their role in the projects
success. I went to the regional council, and got funding, he says. And
I went to my local down in Calgary and also got funding from there, too.
They pitched in $2,000 apiece, to cover the cost of materials.
The project is nearly complete, but Whitmore still looks forward to
seeing a few final touches. Hughies daughters are coming in, and theyre
going to paint rainbows on the doors.And theres a little picket fence all the way
around, and theyre going to be rainbow
coloured too.
After the paint dries, the playhouses will
be transported to Habitat a significant
task in itself. These playhouses are going
to weigh between three and four thousand
pounds each, laughs Whitmore. Not long
after that, t he tickets will go on sale (visit
www.habitatsouthernab.ca for details).
Habitat is going to try to raise around $10,000 for the two of them,
Whitmore says. So, this is going to go to a very good cause.
Over at Habitat, they certainly agree. We at Habitat for Humanity
Southern Alberta are grateful for the generosity of the community, says
Leslie Tamagi, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Southern
Alberta. It is with the support from groups like the ARCCAW we are able
to build affordable housing and provide solutions for low income families
as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
If Whitmore has his way, this wont be the last time he brings an idea
to Bruce and his Trade Winds to Success students. The playhouses have
brought together a whole range of positive forces community service,
meaningful tra ining opportunities, and good old-fashioned fun. Well
be doing more projects like this in the future, Whitmore vows. This
isnt the end; its the beginning.
With features like custom-madesolid-core doors, vinyl siding and
components and basic scaffoldingfor access to the fully-shingled
roofs, the playhouses incorporatemany of the same building practices
found in full-sized residences.
Whitmores scheme, but he promptly rolled up his sleeves and banged the
project into a tangible shape. I had a vision, he says, tongue-in-cheek.
It was Shanes idea but he had no blueprints or anything, so I made up the
design.
With the playhouses now nearing completion, its clear Bruce is more of
an artist t han hed care to admit. Apart fromtheir size six feet by eight feet, with a three-
foot deck at the front the houses wouldnt
look out of place in a developers brochure.
If you insulated these things and heated
them, youd be able to live in them, laughs
Whitmore.
With features like custom-made solid-core
doors, vinyl siding and components and basic
scaffolding for access to the f ully-shingled
roofs, the playhouses incorporate many of
the same building practices found in full-sized residences. As such, says
Bruce, they provided a much more well-rounded carpentry experience
than his students might have expected with a more conventional course
project, such as a bench. The folks at Habit for Humanity werent the only
ones to benefit from Whitmores idea.
Bruce outlines some of the skills the students had to learn. We were
able to teach them rafter layout for a hip roof, he says. They learned
soffit and fascia f undamentals, and why air flow is so important. Without
airf low, warm a ir collects in the attic and can rot the sheathing. Proper
venting also prevents ice build-up and ice dams.
The students also learned basics that will serve them well on any job
site, says Bruce. They lear ned basic framing layout and f undamentals.
They learned how to safely use power and pneumatic tools, and how to
do a pre-job safety sheet. And, above all, Bruce observes, the job helped
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22 HARDHAT FALL2013
on the level
h l ad ga dtry ad th Argal cmmty
northern Alberta have not always seen eye to eye. This is no
secret. The land represents different things to the bustlingindustrial companies than it does to us Aboriginals who have been there
for generations. However, our relationship has improved over the years,
and a lot of that has to do with an innovative program that allows both
parties to work together for common goals.
Bridges between industry and the Aboriginal community have slowly
been forged and one example of this is the Trade Winds to Success
Training Society. I believe that it is one of the first centre pieces to
creating a mutual appreciation between Aboriginals and the oil and gas
companies doing business up north.
The province-wide program connects local Aboriginal men and
women with employment in the trades that can eventually lead to full-
time employment within the industry. We have success stories from allover Alberta, but the region that seems to be best suited for the Trade
Winds program is here in the Fort McMurray area. Rather than having
companies consistently importing workers from across the country and
even outside of Canada, now industry needs to look no further than the
backyard of its operations around Fort McMurray to discover talented
Aboriginals prepared join the workforce.
The Trade Winds program is designed as a pre-apprenticeship
training program with the aim of instilling the creativity and ingenuity
of a relevant trade into members of the Aboriginal community. Our
goal is to help Aboriginals interested in meaningful employment carve
out a gratifying career in an industry that really is the backbone of our
province. Potential career options through Trade Winds to Success
include: boilermaker, carpenter, electrician, ironworker, millwright,
plumber, insulator, steam/pipe fitter or welder.
Our program consists of three stages, deliberately laid out to slowly
ease ambitious members of the community onto the path of success.
The first stage is two weeks of basic orientation. We want to make
sure that people are aware of what a particular trade, carpentry for
example, will consist of. And Im not just talking about the work
requirements, but also the hours and quality of life that a future
tradesperson can expect. During this stage its important that our
students opt for a trade that they will be passionate about. This is
the opportunity for men and women to find an enriching career
T
ByLoRRAine ALbeRT,
CommuntyAbonalLason,
TaWnstoSuccss
BridgebuiLDeRs
that can lead to a higher quality of life and years of waking up with
determination and purpose when heading off to work in the morning.Since this is the first step in the process, its vital that the step is in the
right direction for them.
The second stage is based around upgrading. We ensure that each
individual is adequately educated because our students need to pass the
Alberta trade entrance exam before moving on to the actual training.
Stage three is the eight-to-10-week shop training. Here students have
the chance to become comfortable with the hands-on work in actual
workplace settings, usually at union facilities in Edmonton or Calgary
like at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre. These courses dont
just go over the elementary tasks that eventually become second nature
to a tradesperson. They also lay out essential tool usage and how to be
the safest worker possible. Safety is an essential approach to having a
successful career in the trades, and it is part of the nucleus of the success
and mantra of Trade Winds to Success.
Our website, tradewindstosuccess.ca, contains all of the
information required for people looking to become involved. It also
includes the stories of Brenda Hunter and Edward Joseph Chalifoux,
two blazing stars of the program that have both found success and
purpose in the trades. We would love to post even more success stories,
but lately Ive had trouble finding others to talk to because a convenient
problem has arisen. Suddenly, everyone in the community seems a
lot busier because more people are working and benefitting from the
bustling economy that exists in northern Alberta.
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around thenation
HARDHAT FALL 2013 23
Union members and industry leaders from across the nation gathered in
Newfoundland on August 25 and August 26 for the biennial Canada Council
Convention. The event was held in conjunction with the United Brotherhood
of Carpenters (UBC) annual National Apprenticeship Competition and played
host to various committees, industry experts, politicians and international UBC
members. Special guests Douglas Banes, general vice president of the UBC, and
Randy Stefanizyn, manager of corporate labour relations with Syncrude, were among
the speakers over the two-day conference. This year was a special Canada Council
Convention for the Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers
executive secretary treasurer Martyn Piper as he was elected president of the
Canada Council.
Canada Council Convention
News and events from across Canada
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heher i ws uring his 30 ers ou in he fiel or
its today as an instructor at the Alberta Carpenters
Training Centre (ACTC), Leonard Lopatynski always
makes a point of being a mentor and a student. On the jobsite as a
carpenter he was always quick to go out of his way and pass his skills
to the younger workers. During the past year and a half in his role as
an instructor at training centre, hes made sure to take on the role of a
student too whenever hes had the opportunity. Hes honed his own
skills by upgrading, sitting in on courses taught by other instructors
at the ACTC, and by attending sessions at the International Training
Center (ITC) in Las Vegas. Why? Its simple he says. If you think in
this world and this day and age that you know everything there is toknow, then you must be perfect. But how many perfect people are
there in the world? he asks. Theres always something you can pick
up, and always something you can be taught by
someone else, too.
In part, this love for acquiring further
knowledge is why Lopatynski decided to
transition into the instructor side of the
industry. Now he gets to pass down the
knowledge hes picked up from senior union
members over the past three decades to the
new up-and-coming members who are the
future of the industry.The topics that Lopatynski covers
throughout the various courses he teaches
encompass a wide-range of skills that might
not be what immediately comes to mind
when imagining a carpenters skill set. To
Lopatynski, this is a direct sign of the times in
the construction industry. His courses include,
but are not limited to, industrial technical
training (ITT), hoisting and rigging, aerial and
scissor lifts, and forklift and variable reach
rough terrain lift trucks. The knowledge and
experience students gain from these courses
is vital to their success on the jobsite, he says
and so is the paperwork that comes along with
them. The more documentation and the more
accreditation you have in your wallet, the more
employable you are, he says.
The forklift and variable reach rough terrain
lift truck (Zoom Boom) course is one Lopatynski
feels is particularly excellent, especially when
compared to similar courses offered outside the
W
Lifelong Lerner
ByROBIN SCHROFFELMee he Insrucor
LEONaRd LOpatyNSkI
union. Distilled from a five-day, 40-hour course that instructors attend at the
ITC, its components include theory, inspection, an exam, practical training, and
a practical exam. Lopatynskis intensive two-day class is limited to just eight to
10 students at a time, meaning each student gets plenty of hands-on time with
the machinery before attempting Lopatynskis obstacle courses on both the
forklift and the Zoom Boom. The course gives students a sufficient amount of
time on the equipment, which makes them feel comfortable and trained before
they are out on the job site, says Lopatynski.
From the feedback hes received, Lopatynski is confident hes
contributing to the growth and success of his fellow members, which works
out well as thats the part of his job he likes the most. I like knowing that
Ive trained to the best of my ability and that people are going to leave herewith a good sense theyve actually been taught something that could help
them on the job every day.
24 HaRdHat FALL2013
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Meet the Apprentice
hey say you cant teach an old dog ne trics just
dont say that around Marvin Eskiw. He may have graduated
high school in 1979, probably before most apprentices in
the industry today were even born, but youd never know based on
his enthusiasm. In fact, the only time his age really shows is when
you consider his work experience. Eskiw was self-employed in the
construction and renovation industry for more than two decades.
Money cant buy that kind of experience, but Eskiw believes thatthere is always more to learn about the trade, even for a seasoned
veteran like himself. These days, he works full-time as an instructors
assistant at the Alberta Carpenters Training Centre (ACTC) and on
the books, hes a second-year apprentice.
Eskiw decided to pursue his journeyman ticket in carpentry four
years ago after the physical work hed been doing for years began to take
a toll on his health. Without a ticket, his career options were limited, so
he went back to school with his eye on becoming a job site supervisor
or instructor both roles that require Red Seal certification. My body
is beat and broken, but Ive been in the trade so long, its really the only
thing I know how to do or want to do, he says.
As someone who initially learned exclusively on the jobsite, Eskiwsays that the training setting at the ACTC is a lot different than being
taught in the field. While both may yield the same result, on the
jobsite you learn the shortcuts, while in school you learn how you
got there and why, increasing your ability and overall understanding,
Eskiw explains. When we were out in the field, everything was
shortcuts. We didnt spend time on calculators. You just knew that
this was the angle to cut it at and you went and cut it and put it in
place. How they teach you in class is to mathematically get all your
answers, through equations and with a calculator.
Despite his enthusiasm, he admits there have been some challenges
in apprenticing so late in his career. If I would have started when I was
younger, it would have been a lot easier. Its really tough to get back
into school once youve been out for so long. You have to make yourself
study you cant just dilly-dally and spend your nights at the bar and
expect to pass. You really have to commit yourself.
Eskiw points to the two-plus hours of homework he was doing
nightly to pass the rigging course he took through the Union as an
example of the kind of commitment needed to make it in the industry
these days. Bringing the work home wasnt something he was used
to, but Eskiw admits it drastically improved his skills in the trade. If I
didnt study, I wouldnt have made it.
T
ByROBIN SCHROFFEL
Neer Too Old
MARvIN ESkIw
In a way, Eskiw is also apprenticing into a future role as an instructor.
He started part-time at the ACTC five years ago, but today he assists
instructors with collecting materials and setting up the obstacle courses for
the forklift and Zoom Boom course. And, hes learning how to teach along
the way, hoping to one day become an instructor and pass on his knowledge
to apprentices in the industry. We have very good instructors my
teachers never taught me like this in school. They have the knowledge to
explain it and make it simple for you so you understand exactly what youredoing. There is really no better way to learn the trade.
HARDHAT FALL 2013 25
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26 HARDHAT FALL2013
REPORT Training and Apprenticeship
hat a summer! New records continue to be set and Im not
talking about the temperature. No, I am talking about the incredible,
unprecedented amount of ongoing and proposed construction
developments happening not just in Alberta, but across Canada, particularly in
Newfoundland and Labrador. We are now seeing many of our members who came to
Alberta for work years ago pack up and head back home where things are starting to
really boom there, too. Tens of billions of dollars are being spent. This is great news
for people who have had to work away from their families for years. Skilled workers
like our members are in great demand, and not just in Alberta anymore either.
But this can increase contractors anxiety when they are looking for these
workers, and the entire Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters and Allied Workers
(ARCCAW) and all Building Trades of Canada are facing some increasing challengesright now with what could potentially be decades of non-stop development in
different areas of this country.
The solution to this funnels back to training, and luckily for us the International
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Jointers of America takes this very seriously.
We continue to train full-steam ahead, all over Canada, with plans for more in Alberta
in the coming years.
This summer also saw another Provincial Apprenticeship Competition for our
carpenters and scaffolders in June, and again we saw some of the best and brightest
of our apprentices have some fun and compete for some great prizes from our
sponsors. Our first place carpenter was Benjamin Quintin from Local 2103, who
went on to compete in NFLD at this years National Apprenticeship Competition
(NAC), where he took home third place against contestants from across Canada.Congratulations once again Benjamin. Our first place scaffolder in this years
provincial contest was Daniel Lefurgey from Local 1325. I want to congratulate
all the participants for another professional and fun event, both provincially and
nationally.
After the NAC 2013 in Newfoundland and Labrador, I attended the 2013 Canada
Council Convention where I was able to help report on the activities of the National
Apprenticeship Training Advisory Committee (NATAC) with my fellow NATAC
executive members Kelly Power (NFLD Training Director), and Colleen Dignam
(Ontario Regional Council Training Coordinator). We had many guest speakers
from all walks of our industry who opened our eyes to what is happening in the
construction industry nationwide. It was a very worthwhile event put on by the folks
from the Carpenters Millwright College and the Atlantic Regional Council.
More recently, I attended the Building Trades of Alberta yearly conference
with our delegation from the ARCCAW, and again we listened to more leaders,
contractors and owners in the construction industry tell us about their successes
and challenges, and how we all share in this together. We heard more forecasts of
hundreds of billions of dollars of work and development that will happen over the
next 15 to 20 years in Alberta alone.
The jury is in. Its time to start building more infrastructure on all levels,
(marketing, recruiting, and training, training, training). This summer also saw
the increased emphasis on companies hiring first-year apprentices, and there
needs to be a more consistent, concerted effort on this. This is something we
on the training side have been saying for many years. Its vital that our first-year
Booming for Decades
W
apprentices are employed right away. It has to
be taken seriously if any contractor in Alberta,
or anywhere else for that matter, wants tocontinue to build a much-needed workforce
for whats already on our doorstep, and what is
heading our way.
I write this as I prepare to engage a group
of our scaffolder Level 2 apprentices here in
Fort McMurray tomorrow morning, to share
with them what I have learned this summer. I
will encourage them to do the right thing and
become UBC professionals to make the rest
of us members and our contractors proud.
Speaking of Fort McMurray, the ACTC is
currently looking for an instructor to join the
ranks at the Fort McMurray training centre.
To qualify for this position you must be a
member in good standing with the UBC and
you must possess a recognized journeyman
carpentry certificate and an ACTC journeyman
scaffolder certificate. This is a full time position
with an annual contract. If you are interested
please [email protected] more
information or to submit your resume. Stay safe
and keep up the good work everyone, I hope you
had a great summer.
Len J. Bryden
Director of Training and Apprenticeship
Alberta Carpenters Training Centre
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Sunday,D
ecember1
5,2013
Startsat
Noon
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LoCAL 1325 ChILDREnS ChRISTMAS PARTy
LoCaL 2103 CHiLDreNS CHriStmaS Party
Local1460
membersin
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also
invitedtojoin
the
festivities!
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28 HARDHAT FALL2013
KidZoneByROBIN SCHROFFEL
Class List
Word Search
Summers over, and that means only
thi:Itstitbactschl.But
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watchis,listtthtach,a
actic.Butistaalclasssli
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catillwiht,yucult
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tachatthUisschl:
Forklift:Aforkliftisamachinethatcanliftand
carryheavyloads.Studentslearnhowtodrive
one,thendriveitthroughanobstaclecourse
Rigging:Laabuts,ts,a
chais,syucalitbuiliatialshihitthai
First Aid:Istshutatw
ath,thisclasswilltachyuhwt
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Blueprint Reading:Abluitisa
ictuthatshwsyuactlyhwtbuil
sthiahus,abi,aachi.
Lahwtaabluit
Carpentry:Laallabuttlsath
itwaysbuilithis
Stair Construction:Staicassatasy
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ustaisawstais?Thisclassisall
abuthwtbuilstais
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BLUeprInT
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A:Fingernails!
Youve studied hard in clas s, and now its time to take your forklift test! Drive th e forklift
through the obstacle course to earn your forklift license.
Start
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Q:What nails do carpenters hate to hit? (Answer below)
Maze
BactSchl
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REPORT Local 1460 Millwrights
Bob Hugh, Senior Business Representative -Local 1460 Millwrights
ere at Local 1460, we have 1,662
millwright members. Its quite
a number, but only 407 of these
members are apprentices; 279 member ap-
prentices and 128 probationary apprentices.
We are growing, but not at a rate sufficientenough to offset our anticipated attrition
rate of around 30 per cent.
Also, a majority of our probationary ap-
prentices are first year starting, which is un-
questionably the hardest group to dispatch
to the job site. Our probationary apprentices
must work in the field for 480 hours, have
a valid blue book and attend two training
courses at our training centre. Only then are
they eligible for membership and only after
attending an orientation meeting. Not all of
our clients and contractors embrace startingapprentices, especially the ones who do not
have a blue book yet.
As an industry, we must embrace and
mentor first year apprentices to help meet
the manpower demands we are experiencing
today and the ever greater demand we
will experience in the near future. But,
there are some programs in place as well
as some industry leaders that encourage
these apprentices who are the future of
our industry. We have commitments,
from owner/clients like Syncrude Canada
and Shell Canada, to increase apprentice
ratios on their job sites through the various
contactors that work there.
Through several apprenticeship comple-
tion grants, the federal government is also
looking at ways to increase the number of
apprentices in the trades. Canadas Eco-
nomic Action Plan, released in 2009, saw the
federal government make a commitment
The Driver of Union Growth
Hto encourage skilled trades and apprentice-
ships by investing $40 million per year in the
Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG),
which complemented the pre-existing Ap-
prenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG) launched
in 2007. Both the ACG and the AIG representa total investment of $115 million per year
from the federal government. All apprentices
registered in a designated Red Seal trade in
the province or territory they received jour-
neyperson certification are eligible to apply
for the grants.
The ACG is a $2,000 taxable grant designed
to encourage apprentices registered in a des-
ignated Red Seal trade to complete their pro-
gram and become certified as a journeyper-
son. The ACG was launched in July 2009, with
eligibility made retroactive to January 1, 2009meaning that to be eligible apprentices must
have successfully completed their training
in a designated Red Seal trade and obtained
their journeyperson certification on or after
that date. Apprentices must apply by June 30
of the year following the completion of their
certification. There are approximately 25,000
journeypersons in designated Red Seal trades
across Canada who receive an ACG each year.
The AIG provides a taxable grant of $1,000
per year to those apprentices who successful-
ly advance from one year (level/block) to the
next in the first two years of an apprentice-
ship program in a designated trade. For the
AIG, the apprentices must have completed
the first year (level/block) or second year
(level/block) of an approved apprenticeship
program on or after January 1, 2007. Appren-
tices have until June 30 of the year following
the completion of their level or block to apply
for the grant.
HARDHAT FALL 2013 29
There is also the Interprovincial
Standards Red Seal Program (ISRSP).The ISRSP represents a national standard
of training excellence in the trades and
is highly valued by employers. In 2011
more than 264,000 apprentices were
registered in the Red Seal trades. This
number represented almost 80 per cent
of all apprentices in Canada as well as a
substantial portion of the overall workforce.
Apprentices in designated Red Seal trades
can apply for a $1,000 taxable cash grant
when they complete the first and/or second
year or level of their apprenticeship training
to a lifetime maximum of $2,000. Combined
with the ACG and AIG, apprentices who
complete their training and become
certified journeypersons in a designated Red
Seal trade could be eligible to receive a total
of $4,000 from the federal government.
For detailed information on the grants,
along with the application form, visit
servicecanada.gc.caor call1-866-742-3644.
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30 HARDHAT FALL2013
Just as there was always a wide range of millstones
used for various grains throughout the early days of the
millwright profession, the t ypes of tools that millwrights
used for each stone was just as diverse.
It wasnt uncommon for early millwrights to use up
to four or five different mill picks on the job, depending
on the particular grain the mill was working on and the
challenges that the millwrights faced. Most millwr ights
had a single handle that could easily interchange all the
picks required for the job, which was more efficient than
hauling around four or f ive different handles.
Tools of the TradeParting Shot
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In MemoriamTraining + EventsUPCOMING
ARCCAW notes with sorrow thepassing of the following members.
Meetings
First Wednesday of each month:Local 1325 meetingThird Thursday of each month:Local 2103 meetingFourth Tuesday of each month:Local 1460 meeting
training
alb Cp t CThe following is a sampling of training coursesthat are open for registration at the time ofpublication of this edition ofHard Hat. Forfull listing or more information on trainingcourses, visitwww.abcarptc.ab.ca or phone theEdmonton oce at 780-455-6532 or toll-free at1-877-455-6532.
All courses are at the E dmonton locationunless otherwise indicated.
Blueprint Reading 1 & 2:December 9 to December 13, 2013
Certifed Rigger and Signaler (CRS):December 9 to December 13, 2013
Commercial Door Hardware InstallationCourse:March 10 to March 14, 2014 (Calgary)
April 7 to April 11, 2014May 26 to May 30, 2014 (Calgary)
H2S Alive:November 10, 2013November 17, 2013November 24, 2013
Industrial Technical Training:January 27 to February 9, 2014March 24 to April 6, 2014May 5 to May 18, 2014May 12 to May 23, 2014June 23 to July 6, 2014
OSSA Confned Space Entry and Monitor:November 15, 2013November 23, 2013November 29, 2013
OSSA Fall Protection:November 12, 2013November 16, 2013November 19, 2013November 22, 2013
November 26, 2013November 30, 2013
Period 1 Carpentry:May 20 to July 11, 2014
Period 2 Carpentry:January 6 to February 28, 2014
Pre- Employment Carpentry Program:March 10 to May 2, 2014
Scaolding Journeyman Upgrade:January 6 to February 7, 2014February 3 to March 7, 2014
April 14 to May 16, 2014 (Calgary)
LOCaL 1325
Gordon BurrellJuly, 2013,
Age 77
Liban HusseinJuly, 2013,
Age 24
Philip HuttgesJune, 2013,
Age 53
Milan JojicSeptember 2013,
Age 72
Kevin MacLeodJune 2013,
Age 37Michael Meister
July 2013,Age 49
Jason NovakowskyJune 2013,
Age 43
Benjy SheppardJuly 2013,
Age 32
Theodore SzymanskiJuly 2013,
Age 61
LOCaL 1460James Bristow
August 2013,Age 63
LOCaL 2103
Neil Joseph DeGraafJuly 2013,
Age 60
Elmer MaclarenJune 2013,
Age 65
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