The Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre hosts and sends apprentices to sheet metal contests at home and abroad, offering opportunities for its young charges to showcase their talents and receive feedback on national and sometimes international stages. While not a requirement of the training program, competing is a fast-paced, technical, and creative forum for students to test their skills, think under pressure, and connect with competitors from other regions.
Canadian Council’s Sheet Metal Apprentice Contest – Victoria, BC
In conjunction with the 43rd annual convention of the Canadian Council of Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers, the Canadian Council’s Sheet Metal Apprentice Contest brought 11 competitors from across Canada to the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort in Victoria, BC in June. This two-day contest tested apprentices in layout, theory, and fabrication skills. A binnacle, the housing for a ship’s compass, made from copper and brass was the shop project fabricated in a public space near the shoreline at Ship Point where curious tourists and other passersby were provided a rare public demonstration of these hand skills. Congratulations to Kyle Wellman of Ames Metal Fabricators, winner of the 2017 Level 4 SMWTC Contest, as he was the SMART Local 280 and SMACNA-BC’s representative. Wellman will be awarded the Alex Donaldson Award –the annual top apprentice award – at the SMACNA Christmas Party in November.
“That is one of the things about this contest,” says Jud Martell, training co-ordinator with SMWTC. “They try to put everyone
in red shirts and make them visible so the public can see what is happening and see the work. The projects are substantial that they demonstrate some important skills, but they are also designed to be robust and fit a variety of skill levels.”
Martell says Wellman’s mannerism before and after the competition was dramatically different, a testament to one benefit of participating in contests.
“What you saw before was a good sheet metal worker who won our local fourth year competition. After the Canadian competition, he became a spokesperson for the trade and his fellow workers. It is one thing to put some copper together, but it was that change in his confidence and enthusiasm and ability to motivate people that was fantastic.”
That’s what this contest does, says Martell. “It is more than a competition. It is creating 11 new spokespersons across Canada who will go back and help their Locals. This is why it is the longest running competition and has always been a top shelf organization.”
2018 SMWTC Annual Apprentice Contest November 24, 2018
The local competition is set to run with up to ten competitors in each of four levels corresponding with the four apprenticeship years. It is held at the training centre in Surrey and always draws a crowd from across the Lower Mainland and beyond.
The contest begins with 7:30 a.m. orientation. Contestants in each level will compete for seven hours, which will include a theory exam, layout drawing, welding, and shop project. The projects will be based on curriculum from each level.
Participants will receive coffee, donuts, lunch, and a prize. Winners in each level will receive additional prizes. Martell says, “We invite contractors, union workers, and parents alike to join us. Please come by to show support to the training centre and fellow apprentices, have a coffee, and see apprentices show off their skills.”
The fourth year apprentice who wins the local competition will attend next year’s Canadian contest and the third-year winner will go to Skills Canada – BC.
“It’s a great opportunity to see the top people in the trade,” says Martell. “And, there is a great set of prizes. Usually each participant goes home with a $200 prize.”
Learn more at www.smwtcs.ca or search Sheet Metal Workers’ Training Centre on Facebook to see photos and discussion of previous years’ competitions.
Watch the winter 2019 issue of Sheet Metal Journal for a list of winners, contest review, and photos of the apprentices who competed and their projects.
