New Wolf Creek Mobile Welding Program connects Indigenous students to skilled trades

“The entire purpose of this is to take a look and see, where is my future? What career do I want to do?” he said. “It’s important to learn what grabs your interest, but also what may not. Exploring that all is part of this experience.”

(Image Credit: Wolf Creek Public Schools/Supplied)

The mobile welding lab, in partnership with Metrax Indigenous Corporation, was created to improve access to industry standard, trades education for all students, particularly those who may face transportation barriers to programming in other communities.

Earlier this year, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Metrax Indigenous Corporation signed an agreement to provide Indigenous students with opportunities to train in the skilled trades. This pilot project was designed to expand opportunities throughout the division by improving access for Indigenous students through on-site instruction and mentorship.

“Programs like this are about more than learning technical skills. They are about creating opportunity, building confidence and helping students see a future for themselves in meaningful careers close to home,” said Superintendent Tim De Ruyck. “When students are supported by community, culture and strong mentorship, powerful things can happen.”

Shelagh Hagemann, Director of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation, said the program was also created in response to a focus on attracting more Indigenous representation in skilled trades programming.

“We have very few Indigenous students in welding and in the RAP program across our division,” Hagemann said. “We want to bring about this opportunity because we want to encourage students to get involved in the trades.”

She noted that she has known many of the students in the cohort since they were just young elementary students, and it’s rewarding to see them involved in this first pilot student group.

“You are the first cohort of students to go through, who are Indigenous, but also the first to ever use this mobile welding lab,” she said. “So it’s huge. Congratulations to you.”

Students spent the day learning introductory welding and fabrication skills under the guidance of indigenous instructors Lee Lohorn and Quinton Potts.

Lohorn, a licensed heavy-duty mechanic with two Red Seals and more than 20 years of industry experience, said students would be learning both practical shop skills and safe tool use over the coming days.

“We’ll be walking them through the hand tool side, how to properly use a hand tool, which way to put a blade, and how to use a file, a chisel, that type of equipment,” he said.

(Image Credit: Wolf Creek Public Schools/Supplied)

Students will be introduced to a series of small fabrication projects, including those used in the trade itself, decorative metal work and other creative metalwork pieces.

“We’re gonna leave it up to the students for creativity,” Lohorn said. “It’s pretty much up to you guys what you want to make out of this course.”

For Potts, the opportunity to mentor students in the same school where he once studied carried personal meaning.

“I came to this high school, graduated in 2011,” he said. “I started as a labourer … then I got to learn to weld.”

Potts said welding enabled him to work across Canada before returning home to raise a family and build a career in his own community.

“It’s done a lot for me,” he said. “Now I’m just coming back full circle and helping you guys.”

Lougheed said those kinds of local success stories are exactly why the program matters.

“We’ve got people through our community doing amazing work, amazing things,” he said. “He’s got his own company, he’s doing different pieces right here in the community. So, a really good role model for us.”

by Vince Burke, Wolf Creek Public Schools

New Wolf Creek Mobile Welding Program connects Indigenous students to skilled trades

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