By / Jessica Kirby Photos / Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre
The Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre (SMWTC) opened its new training centre in January 2023, and is off to a great start with classes running and new staffing. The “Valley” location, located at 5514 275 Street in Langley, is approximately 12,000 square feet and will accommodate 12 classes each year.
The building, purchased back in 2021 and derailed by various covid-19 and permit related challenges, is a standard industrial tilt concrete building with a flat EPDM roof. Its footprint sits on a half-acre lot, occupying approximately 40 percent of the land space. The front of the building features truck bays and office space.
“We converted the building’s front end into two classrooms and an instructor’s office, a student kitchen and lounge, and washrooms,” says SMWTC Training Co-ordinator, Jud Martell. “Our industry has come together to help make this project a reality and help us prepare for the issues the skilled trades face moving forward.”
A general contractor oversaw the project with SMACNA-BC members Austin Sheet Metal, Modern Niagara, Cascade Sheet Metal, Smith Sheet Metal, Boston Sheet Metal, Apollo Sheet Metal, and Crosstown Metal Industries contracted in on various scopes.
When the Valley facility opened, two classes began, along with another two at the existing facility—called “Main”—allowing for four classes running simultaneously.
“Both facilities will continue to operate simultaneously, effectively doubling the training program’s capacity,” Martell says. “Combined, the two facilities will see 380 students per year.”
January’s classes included levels 1, 2, and 3 in the sheet metal stream and one architectural sheet metal class. In March, three more started, including levels 1, 2, and 4 in the sheet metal stream, with the first architectural sheet metal class graduating at the Valley. Four more sheet metal classes started in April and May.
“This is important for us because there are 64 seats to fill each intake,” Martell says. “We anticipated the demand and labour shortage, and the increased capacity and extra seats were necessary for several factors.”
First of all, covid-19 created a backlog of student applicants. There is also increased demand for technical training as the industry seeks to grow in response to labour shortages and a retiring workforce.
“SkilledTradesBC has introduced skilled trades certification and sheet metal worker is one of the first ten compulsory trade,” Martell says. “This will drive interest in technical training.”
Besides expanding capacity, the new facility also removes the afternoon shift, which refers to an afternoon/evening class that has run at Main for the past three years. It was implemented because the building’s capacity was two simultaneous classes, but demand called for three.
“In the absence of the afternoon shift we have been able to bring specialty classes back to Main starting in May,” Martell says.
With the new building came the requirement for new equipment and staff. The Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) grant with which SMWTC was able to outfit the Main campus with state-of-the-art augmented reality welders and other training technology is not available to the Valley facility.
“UTIP aims to close important gaps for businesses or training facilities just getting started or looking to upgrade their technology to contemporary practices,” Martell says. “We are already out and ahead, delivering the highest standard of training in North America and doing more with less than most sheet metal training programs.”
Nearing the end of phase 1, Valley is open as a shell facility but still needs important equipment before it can run 100% independently from Main. In the meantime, students will move between the facilities depending on the module of training.
“Valley still needs a half to a quarter million in work,” Martell says. “It needs these important finishing components before it will be ready to handle full sheet metal classes at all levels. Right now, it is kitted for sheet metal level 1 and 2 and all levels of architectural.”
Needless to say, the training centre is still seeking funding. Once the dust settles on the facility’s inaugural classes, the team will work on requirements for phases 2 and 3.
In phase 2, the plan will be to get the shop side up and running to level 3 and 4 capacities. That will require more industrial equipment and some stainless steel work. Phase 3 involves a fully operational welding area.
“We are waiting to see how it all falls into place,” Martell says, estimating 6 to 18 months before the building is complete. “Like the building’s timeline, the timeline for the next phases is flexible.”
The training centre hired additional instructors and now has five full-time instructors and three part-timers to handle running four simultaneous classes.
“What has become apparent is that everyone here as a team is really stepping up and really taking on those individual leadership roles in their departments,” Martell says. “The board and the new instructional team have met the project’s challenges with incredible grace. We now have $10 million in assets with no support from anyone but the organized industry.”
The team at the Sheet Metal Industry Training Board is working diligently on class assignments for upcoming classes and intakes beyond May.
“Our goal is to finalize class assignments in a timely manner so as not to delay apprenticeship progression, while trying to accommodate apprentice and contractor requests,” Martell says. “We appreciate our contractors’ efforts to ensure apprentices are released to attend technical training.”
Learn more at smwtcs.ca
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