SD83 Students Learn About Terrific Trades at Tolko

Posted on 2023-10-28 07:00:00 +0000 UTC

AL Fortune student Alesis Ealey latches onto her stick welding techniques while Tolko Welder Curtis Hague examines the bead.

The grand daddy of SD83 Career Field Trips has come back for another year at the Tolko Lumber and Plywood Plant south of Armstrong. Nearly 50 students from all five district high schools participated in what is believed to be the 13th running of this event which showcases the different high-demand trades students can pursue careers in.

Tolko Electrician Gord Meggait explains to the students the first steps in creating a RJ-45 connector or data clip for a computer. Five of the seven students got the plug to work the first time.

Students rotated through eight interactive stations in the full-day event. Seasoned Journey facilitators lead the stations which featured trades such as carpentry, millwright, heavy duty mechanic, electrical, power engineering, and machining. The Tolko employees outlined their duties, challenges and pleasures while working in their craft. One of those workers was Millwright Dillon Uhlenberg, a former AL Fortune grad who got his start in Mr. William’s Machinist Program.

Millwright Dillon Uhlenberg (right) challenges Trent Jolicoeur (left) and other students on the math needed to calculate how much force can the hydraulic cylinder, located on the bench, handle for its machine.

SD 83 students witness the fairly new Cat D9 put through its paces by the Heavy Duty Mechanic Department. The 1.8 million dollars machine is 55 tonnes and is used over 100 hour a week by Tolko employees to push the hog fuel/wood chips into and out of piles.

Above: Journey Carpenter Marty Dery watches Al Fortune’s Zak Korf use the electric planer. Below: Dery examines the accuracy of Sy Korf’s use of the quick drive for wood screws.

There are many other Trade-based field trips taking place with SD83 careers this year. The next ones of interest will be at Sparkling Hill Spa on November 14th and Pleasant Valley Secondary will highlight its hair styling program on November 22nd. Any students interested in signing up for those field trips are welcome to approach their career coordinator at their high school. If you wish more information about high-demand jobs in the trades, you are welcome to contact SD83 Trades and Transitions Coordinator Michelle Hall at AL Fortune by emailing mihall@sd83.bc.ca.

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SD83 Students Learn About Terrific Trades at Tolko

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