By Geoff Smith (@GeoffSmithLNN on Twitter)

Program preparing future ironworkers at a young age

May 24, 2018 | 12:10 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Students are learning how the ironworking trades may be affected by climate change and its impact on industry, as they also explore whether a career in ironworking is right for them.

At an open house held Thursday, May 24 at the Ironworkers Local 725 training centre in north Lethbridge, guests could see a one-third scale model of a wind turbine base take shape in the form of rebar, built by members of the second class of high schoolers to take part in the Introduction to Ironworking course.

“We teach them the very, very most important aspects which is the training – the safety tickets,” explained Kris Chambers, assistant training coordinator and apprenticeship coordinator. “They get the fall protection, they also get the elevated work platform, the stuff that’s really necessary in order to work at heights.”

From there, they get into more physically demanding skills such as rebar, and on to welding fabrication and structural steel.

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“Some of the work ethic of some of the boys we’ve got is phenomenal, and the girls. Very impressed. They take to it very well. There’s not a whole lot of needing to motivate them or telling them why you have to work so hard. They just jump right in, and it’s fantastic.”

Josef Eppert, a grade 11 student at Chinook High School, is one of the participants. The son of a welder, he explained he loves working with his hands and aims for a career doing what he loves to do.

“Hopefully make some renewable energy sources such as windmills and dams and anything to do with concrete and steel, and hopefully start my own business one day,” he said. He’s interested in specializing in rod busting, which involves shaping rebar used to reinforce structural concrete.

Chambers cites wind turbines as a new challenge for workers accustomed to building more traditional structures.

“As a local I was part of the windmill project that went on in Carmangay,” he said. “It is an aspect of ironworking I was not familiar with at the time, but it is very meticulous. It’s fantastic work, it’s nice clean work.

“As new technology comes in, either you fit in and you grow with it, or you’ll be phased out. And that’s what we’re doing here.”

The program is offered by Career Transitions, through the Ironworkers Local 725 and the Educational Partnership Foundation.