Hey All,
Well, although I may have only been posting on this forum for a week, I have been contemplating my options for next year for a long time now (God knows it’s kept me up sooo many nights). Finally, I have come to my decision as to the route that I will take next year.
Thanks to the encouragement of everyone on this forum I have decided to continue on with my schooling and I will be taking the Construction Engineering Technology-Management programme at George Brown College in Toronto. During my summers I will work with local builders in getting the 7200 hours I need to write my carpenter’s license. Once college is complete I will have to do one or two years full time to finish the time requirement for my license and then I should have one of the most well rounded construction educations around (although I know there is no substitute for experience which is the best teacher of all). The money I make with my apprenticeship and with the scholarship money that I have already earned, my schooling will not put me in any debt (and at that I should have enough to invest in some pro grade tools). I have discussed all the above with my parents and it was warmly received with their encouragement. At the end of it I will have both a diploma and a license, leaving a wide avenue for me to choose the career path that I feels suits me best at that time with the ability to change at any time.
Do not think that you have gotten rid of me yet on this forum though. I have spoken with my shop teacher and for the second consecutive year he has decided to enter me in the Canada Skilled Trades Olympics. Originally he wanted me to compete again in cabinetry as I did last year but upon my request he has entered me into the framing category. What does all this mean? I have a lot to learn still in only a matter of 4 or 5 months. Regardless I am anxious to tackle this challenge and I hope that some of you may be able to answer some of my future questions.
I must give one final thank you to everyone who posted a suggestion on my previous thread “Carpentry as a Career” ( I decided to make this one a separate thread so that it would stand out to all of you who have been so generous as to help me thus far). I almost wished that I lived state-side so that I might have the opportunity to work with some of you.
So thanks again to all of you and I look forward to your reply and future discussions.
Cheers to a new beginning!
Brian
Edited 11/4/2002 1:48:03 AM ET by freefall
Replies
Way to go ace! Upward and onward!
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Nice decision . Good luck !
Tim Mooney
I'll bet your parents are extremely proud of you--I would be. You've thought through a problem, made a decision, and planned a course. That in itself is one of the most important skills in any career. All the best to you!
"Mr Robertson, your predecessor, an excellent librarian, savaged three people last week and had to be destroyed."--???
Best of luck, hoss. Sounds like a good game plan. May you be happy, wealthy, and keep all ten fingers.
"my schooling will not put me in any debt"
That's quite an accomplishment in itself.
BTW - What the heck is the "Canada Skilled Trades Olympics"?
Best of luck with your schooling. Be sure to hang around here - You perspective is different, and will be welcome.
If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when its free. -- P.J. O'Rourke
The Canadian Skilled Trades Olympics has a few levels to it.
It first starts at the municipal level. You compete against all the other schools within your school boards. You show up on the jobsite at 7 am and you are giving a set of plans that no one has seen before. You have until 4 o'clock to complete the plans to exact specifications and to code. After that there is a quick written exam. You are scored on safety, methods, accuracy, materials used (i.e. you don't want to screw a piece up 4 or 5 times cuz you'll run out of lumber). If you are the top 3 in this category then you move to provincial competition and then to the Canada wide one. The competition includes every trade you can think of, carpentry, to landscaping, to culinary arts, all skilled labour communities are represented.
Last year I competed in cabinetry and just barely failed to qualify (I was 4th and needed to be 3rd, but had much less experience than those I was competing against). My shop teacher has had framers advance to at least the Ontario competition the last 3 years now so hopefully I can keep the tradition alive. There are some great prizes offered by DeWalt as well as scholarship money and tool bursaries.
That's the Canadian Skilled Trades Olympics in a nut shell.
Peace
Brian
Edited 11/4/2002 1:28:17 PM ET by freefall
That is a great idea. I wish we had something similar in the states. I'd love to see that competition.
Good luck in your career choice.
I think theve out done us on this one! Its a shame it isnt ran off here too.
Tim Mooney
You need to get out (from Breaktime) a little more.
In the US it is called VICA/SkillsUSA.
http://www.skillsusa.org/
Here is a list of all of the winners in the 2002 contest.
You will see carpentry, cabinet making, electrical, HVAC and some others
I think I know a Canadian who posts here that might fair well in another "Olympics".
OK...that was just mean....but I had to!J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Jaybird, I'm afraid that one went over my head..............No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session. -- Mark Twain (1866)
Perhaps not over....it was more low-brow. : )J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Very sly Laddie. A Grunt with a Supervisors cap, good choice!
Keep us posted on the Olympics
Gordsco
Sounds like a plan....stick with it and try to keep the enthusiasm.
Keep thinking of carpentery as a career....not just a job....and kep looking farther down the road. Don't be afriad to jump ship and switch jobs for more money and/or a better position.
I was self-employeed.....then employeed.....then laid off..then back self-employeed..and now looking at a future offer to be an employee again in a coupla months.......and each switch has brought better conditions and more money.
Posistion your self to be a bit more valuable than the next guy......then then run with it. One of the things that'll take you far is an open mind and the ability to learn.
Jeff
..............Al-ways look on......the bright......side of life...........
.......whistle.....whistle.......whistle........
One thing you should check into....you'll probably still have to do all the carpentry 'in-school' requirements of the apprenticeship if you want to get the license....used to be called blocks (units of theory), not sure what Ontario is calling them now....you'll probably be looking at three or so periods where you are in school, working on the theoretical side of carpentry, specifically. The construction management course may relate in some areas (in which case you could apply for PLAR, or prior learning assessment/recognition), but it won't in others. On the other hand, the construction management course may give you some hours towards the 7200; in Nova Scotia, we'll credit a maximum of 1000 hours per year, if the course material relates directly to the apprenticeship curriculum.The apprenticeship people will be able to guide you there. It's not as simple as getting the 7200 hours, and writing the exam; the in-school part will be required also. Or the other option is, there is usually a provision where if you have a great deal of experience, and a couple of journeymen to vouch for you, you can challenge the exam, but figure on at least a couple of years past the 7200. When I certified in Ontario (Industrial Woodworker; still at 8000 hours on the books there), because I went to school then did my hours, I had to prove at least 10,000 before I could write.
Good luck; the GBC program looks good, and I'm a believer in the apprenticeship sytem and certification in general. I have one ex-student who worked for me for a while, when I was working full time in my business, who almost has enough hours to certify now....so we'll start looking at prepping him for the exam.
cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
Yes, I do know about the extra courses. There are three levels to them, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. You're supposed to do one after every 1500 hours of apprenticeship approx. I think. They are not necessary to get your liscense but however I will do them because it takes tons of hours off the total time needed. Hopefully with my college diploma the builder I'm working for will recommend me for advance placement so that I can advance as fast as I am learning in the feild.
Damn, I wanna go out and build something now...
Peace
Brian
if you are talking about the formal apprenticeship path, and a Province of Ontario journeymans certificate, I think you're going to find those in-school periods are compulsory....they are everywhere else that I know of (including here, where I'm involved in it, and know lots of other instructors that provide that training......we also have lots of apprentices that have trouble finding the time to come in and do one or more of the in-school parts, and are ineligible to write their papers until they do), and they were when I left Ontario five or six years ago....they seem to be still in effect, but it's not easy to see on the governement website. This link mentions the requirements though http://www.sl.on.ca/fulltime/FT0575K.htm
Even the guys that have been working for years often take the courses , or an upgrading course, before writing the exam. If you are in the Youth Apprenticeship program, you may get credit for doing part of the in-school stuff while you're in high school....but you're still doing it.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
You may very well, be right, i'll look into it.
Brian