Do you enjoy working with your hands, understand spatial relationships and have a knack for problem-solving? Do you have above-average mechanical and math skills?
You may want to consider a rewarding career as a sheet metal worker!
The 鈥� celebrating its 30th anniversary in October! 鈥� offers training and upgrading to help improve the vocational and safety skills of sheet metal workers. Participants become more employable through training that keeps pace with changes in technology through courses designed in response to industry needs.
A career as a sheet metal worker offers diverse work opportunities, including heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, roofing, restaurant, air pollution, marine installation and hospital equipment fields.
鈥淲e are a craft trade that takes raw materials and creates the items needed for almost every aspect of our lives,鈥� explains the society鈥檚 head instructor Jake LeBlanc.
鈥淚t gives you the opportunity to be artistic in a way, through creativity and design.鈥�
As an official apprenticeship training provider for B.C.鈥檚 registered sheet metal workers, the Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre Society is the only training facility in B.C. recognized both provincially by the , and Platinum Standard accredited internationally by the .
include the four-year Red Seal Sheet Metal Worker and three-year Architectural Sheet Metal Worker, as well as specialty training that includes:
- Welding 鈥� fundamentals of GMAW, GTAW and SMAW
- Stainless steel fabrication 鈥� Precision fabrication and welding
- AutoCAD 鈥� Computer drafting and designField Installation鈥� Concepts of correctly and efficiently ordering product
- Blueprint Reading 鈥� Fundamental skills of plan and specification interpretation
- Fan Service 鈥� Repair and maintenance of air moving devices
- Lost skills 鈥� Working with copper using old world techniques
The society鈥檚 highly qualified instructors offer many years of on-the-job experience, and guide students in learning new skills needed to demonstrate quality workmanship and productivity in the sheet metal industry.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much to learn because the scope of work is enormous, including niche jobs and lot of room for lateral movement,鈥� LeBlanc says. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in the industry 27 years and I still don鈥檛 know 50 per cent of the trade. I鈥檓 still learning every single day!鈥�
Candidates interested in networking with their expansive contractor database must complete an application to the Sheet Metal Industry Training Board, on behalf of the Sheet Metal Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART) Local Union #280 and the British Columbia Sheet Metal Association contractors.
SMART Local Union #280 members enjoy better wages, better benefits, and increased job security.
鈥淲hen I look back, I don鈥檛 regret a day of it,鈥� LeBlanc says. 鈥淵ou can take care of your family making good money and receiving a pension and great health benefits.
鈥淲orking as a sheet metal worker has provided me with an outstanding life!鈥�
Learn more on and , give them a call at 604-882-7680 or fill out an for courses offered at their training centre located at .