July 27, 2009

CALGARY CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION

Youth Employment Program participant Nathan Klooster, 21, is seen here working on West Jet’s Campus Centre. He is now entering his second year as a plumbing apprentice. He is employed with Botting and Associates Alberta Ltd.

Skills Training

Calgary Construction Association develops unique youth program

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

The Calgary Construction Association (CCA) has developed the only program of its kind in Canada that places youth in the construction trade of their choice.

“We are dealing with kids that have dropped out of high school,” said Dave Smith, executive vice president of the association.

“Most programs deal with kids that are still in school.”

The Youth Employment Program (YEP) matches participants between 16 and 24 years in age with an employer, so they can gain experience in a trade or occupation that interests them as a career.

“We have developed a website that has three easy steps,” said Smith.

“The first step is to go through the process of selecting a trade in construction. The trade descriptions tell them what is good and what is tough about each trade. We try to show them what each trade is really like.”

Once the candidate decides on a trade, they fill out a career research report, and answer questions about why a particular occupation was selected, educational background, employment experience and readiness for work.

The candidate then contacts the youth employment co-ordinator.

“We interview candidates and give them a pre-screening to make sure they have energy and are prepared to work,” said Smith.

“They learn how to put a resumé together and we help them learn skills in writing and how to present themselves, before they meet potential employers.”

At this stage, the youth employment co-ordinator finds a mentor, who provides the youth with an opportunity to work in the industry for three weeks.

Before the youth begins three weeks of paid work experience, they go through a program to learn about safety on jobsites.

There is also a mentoring program for employers, so they can learn how to deal with the young workers.

After the youth completes the work experience, the employer can choose whether or not to hire them.

A permanent job provides the youth with an opportunity to begin a career in the construction industry.

YEP covers the Workers Compensation Board premiums during the three-week work period.

“One of the things we like about the program is it supports youth and it is philosophically right, but they have already interviewed and talked to the youth about working in construction,” said Melody Bundt-Witwer, human resources director with Concept Electric Ltd.

“When you hire off the street, they are not always prepared and don’t know what to expect. The program does a lot of leg work.”

Smith said that last year 67 youth completed the three week program and an additional ten people, who were older than 24, were hired directly.

So far, 95 per cent of the participants in the three week program are hired full time.

“The long term objective is that the employer leads them up the apprenticeship system,” he said.

The apprentices are eligible to receive one of eight $500 scholarships.

The YEP was established more than 11 years ago by the Calgary Construction Association and Alberta Employment and Immigration.

It has helped about 500 people find a career.

“We have had a lot of success over the years, because the youth see someone giving them a break and who really cares,” said Smith.

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