Are you thinking about heading into trades? Looking for some basic carpentry training?
Northwest Community College (NWCC), in partnership with Houston Secondary School (HSS), is looking to run a Foundations of Carpentry ACE-IT course in Houston Feb. 3 to June 20, 2014.
Open to both adults and high school students, ACE-IT (Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training) programs give high school students duel credits (i.e. both high school and college credits).
The course will be Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 to 3 p.m. at the HSS wood shop, and will give students foundation-level college certification in carpentry.
In order to take the course, a person must be over 16 and have completed grade 10.
Program costs vary, with high school students paying between $500 and $1,200, and adults $3,775.
ACT-IT contact and HSS guidance counsellor Donna Stanyer, says NWCC has funding available to help adults interested in the program.
The program itself will be primarily hands on training and only about 30 per cent teaching, Stanyer said.
Students will learn to read carpentry plans and use tools. They'll learn to assemble and erect forms for concrete, do wood and metal frame construction, and install interior and exterior finishing for residential, commercial and industrial projects.
They will also take part in a construction project outside of the shop, possibly building a storage shed for the Houston Fire Hall, Stanyer said.
"It's one of those trades that is just so applicable for people, no matter whether you go on [for more training] or not," she said.
She says lots of carpentry students buy fixer-upper houses, do the fixing themselves and then sell the house for a good profit.
Carpenters can also get work in all different areas, including mining.
"No matter what, carpenters are needed, because you have to put up out-buildings and such. Almost every trade needs carpenters. It's pretty transportable that way," Stanyer said.
The course has seven students signed up, and Stanyer says they need at least 12 people enrolled for the course to run.
Anyone interested in the program is asked to contact Nikki Royer at 250-845-7266 or nroyer@nwcc.bc.ca.