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  • Non-Red Seal Trades

    Non-Red Seal Trades

    There is more to the trades than you think – here are other jobs that are part of the trade industry. See if one feels right for you! Click through to see more information on select trades from Service Canada, and check back each month as we feature profiles of some of these exciting careers right here on Jobs People Do.

    Construction Sector
    –Cement (concrete) Finisher
    -Concrete Pump Operator
    –Construction Millwright
    –Electrician (Domestic and Rural)
    -Exterior Insulated Finishing Systems Mechanic
    -Hazardous Materials Worker
    –Heat and Frost Insulator
    – Heavy Equipment Operator
    – Dozer Operator
    – Excavator Operator
    – Tractor Loader, Backhoe Operator
    -Native Residential Construction Worker
    –Painter and Decorator: Industrial
    -Precast Concrete Erector
    –Precast Concrete Finisher
    –Refractory Mason
    –Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
    –Residential (low rise) Sheet Metal Installer
    -Restoration Mason

    Industrial Sector
    -Bearings Mechanic
    –Blacksmith
    -CNC Programmer
    -Composite Structures Technician
    –Die Designer
    –Draftsperson (Mechanical, Plastic Mould Design, Tool and Die Design)
    -Electrical Control (Machine) Builder
    -Electrician – Signal Maintenance (TTC)
    -Elevating Devices Mechanic
    -Entertainment Industry Power Technician
    -Facilities Mechanic
    -Facilities Technician
    –Fitter-Assembler(Motor Assembly)
    –Gas Technician
    -Hydraulic/Pneumatic Mechanic
    -Light Rail Overhead Contact System Lineperson (TTC)
    -Locksmith
    -Machine Tool Builder and Integrator
    -Mould Designer
    -Mould Or Die Finisher
    -Mould Maker
    -Optics Technician (Lens and Prism Maker)
    –Packaging Machine Mechanic
    –Pattern Maker
    -Precision Metal Fabricator
    -Pressure Systems Welder
    -Process Operator (Food Manufacturing; Power; Refinery, Chemical and Liquid Process; Wood Products)
    -Pump Systems Installer/Mechanic
    –Railway Car Technician
    -Relay and Instrumentation Technician
    -Roll Grinder/Turner
    -Saw Filer/Fitter
    -Ski Lift Mechanic
    –Surface Blaster
    –Surface Mount Assembler
    -Thin Film Technician
    –Tool And Cutter Grinder
    -Tool And Gauge Inspector
    –Tool/Tooling Maker
    –Tractor Trailer Commercial Driver
    –Water Well Driller

    Motive Power Sector
    –Alignment and Brakes Technician
    –Auto Body Repairer – Br.2
    -Automotive Electronic Accessory Technician
    –Automotive Glass Technician
    –Marine Engine Mechanic
    -Motive Power Machinist
    -Powered Lift Truck Technician
    –Small Engine Technician
    -Tire, Wheel and Rim Mechanic
    –Transmission Technician
    -Turf Equipment Technician

    Service Sector
    -Aboriginal Child Development Practitioner
    –Agriculture – Dairy Herdsperson
    –Agriculture – Fruit Grower
    –Agriculture – Swine Herdsperson
    –Arborist
    –Baker
    -Bicycle Mechanic
    –Chef
    –Child and Youth Worker
    -Child Development Practitioner
    –Cook – Assistant Br. 1
    –Developmental Services Worker
    –Educational Assistant
    –Electronic Service Technician
    -Gem Setter/Goldsmith
    -Hardware, Lumber and Building Materials Retailer
    –Service Sector Horse Groomer
    -Horse Harness Maker
    –Information Technology (Hardware Technician,  Network Technician)
    –Institutional Cook
    -IT Contact Centre (Customer Care Agent, Sales Agent, Technical Support Agent)
    -Micro-Electronics Manufacturer
    -Native Clothing and Crafts Artisan
    -Network Cabling Specialist
    –Pool and Hot Tub/Spa Installer
    –Pool and Hot Tub/Spa Service Technician
    –Retail Meat Cutter
    -Saddlery
    –Special Events Coordinator
    -Utility Arborist
    -Wooden Boat Rebuilder/Repairer

  • Career Profile: Social Worker

    Career Profile: Social Worker

    Helping people can be a satisfying experience. You probably know the good feeling you get when you help your grandparents or friends with jobs that need to be done, such as raking leaves in the yard or helping them move to a new home. You might not enjoy everything about the job itself, but in the end, you can feel good about doing something to help people in need. If you enjoy helping people, even with difficult or unpleasant tasks, a career as a social worker might be right for you.

    Becoming a social worker is a bit like helping friends and family with the things they need to have done. Not everything that social workers do is pleasant or even safe. Sometimes they have to deal with dangerous situations and  it may seem as if nothing they do can help improve people’s lives. However, all of these struggles are part of their job.

    Basically, social workers help people in crisis. They might go into the hospital to help someone who needs assistance in everyday tasks because of an accident or major illness. In Canada, about 85% of social workers are in hospitals. Others take children from dangerous homes and find them safe places to live. Social workers help unemployed people, the homeless, people with physical or mental disabilities, young people who have committed crimes, and many others. To do this, they often work with counselors, psychologists, and other professionals.

    For each person or family that social workers help, they have to make a plan. They decide what information to give on government programs or arrange for meetings with a counsellor who can help people with their family, employment, or personal problems. It usually means spending time with the client (the person in need) to see what help is necessary. People are all different, and social workers have to try to find out the best treatment for each one. Over the next months or years, the social workers have to keep on checking in with the client to make sure that everything is working and report back to other people working in the field. Often, this means that they spend a lot of time writing reports on what they have done.

    Many people do social work without ever having official training. Someone who washes the dishes at a homeless shelter, for example, is doing social work. However, becoming a full-time, official social worker usually requires university training to learn the theories and principles of the field. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work or social services is often necessary for high-level jobs, although many lower-level workers often need no special education.

    A career in social work can be difficult, but it can have many rewards. If you like working with people and want to help them, it might be a good career path to consider.

  • All About Apprenticeships

    All About Apprenticeships

    What is apprenticeship?
    Apprenticeship is an agreement between a person (an apprentice) who wants to learn a skill and an employer who needs a skilled worker — “earning while learning.” Apprenticeship is a proven industry-based learning system that combines on-the-job experience with technical training to produce a certified journeyperson. Upon completion of the specified training period, apprentices receive a Certificate of Qualification. On average, 85% of the apprentice’s training, which usually takes two to five years, is spent in the workplace; the rest is spent at a training institution.

    What is a designated trade?
    Under the terms of the Canadian Constitution, each province and territory has the responsibilities for education and training which includes apprenticeship. The legislation permits each jurisdiction to designate occupations for apprenticeship.

    Designated trades are governed by regulations under the Provincial and Territorial Apprenticeship Acts. These regulations outline the administrative procedures and in some cases the standards and conditions of training for specific trades (e.g. methods of registering apprentices, curriculum, accreditation, and certification).

    Who administers apprenticeship programs?
    Apprenticeship programs are generally administered by provincial and territorial departments responsible for education, labour and training (under the direction of the provincial or territorial Director of Apprenticeship) with authority delegated from the legislation in each province and territory.

    The Program is supported by a network of advisory bodies, such as Apprenticeship and Certification Boards, Local Advisory Committees and Provincial Advisory Committees.

    Industry-driven provincial and territorial apprenticeship training boards are major policy-making and governing bodies for apprenticeship training relating to recommendations of trade designation, curriculum requirements and regulatory aspects of trades and occupations.

    Is certification compulsory or voluntary?
    The skilled trades are classified as either compulsory or voluntary. Generally, compulsory trades require workers to be certified or registered as apprentices in order to work in the occupation. Voluntary trades involve voluntary apprenticeship training and certification as workers are not required to be registered or certified to work in that trade.

    Even though many trades deemed compulsory in some of the jurisdictions are also Red Seal trades, it is not mandatory for a worker to obtain the Red Seal endorsement.

    What is the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program?
    The Red Seal Program represents industry’s recognition of an interprovincial standard of excellence for the skilled trades.

    Through the Program, apprentices who have completed their training and become certified journeypersons are able to obtain a Red Seal endorsement on their provincial or territorial Certificates of Qualification and Apprenticeship by successfully completing an interprovincial Red Seal examination.The Program encourages harmonization of provincial and territorial apprenticeship training and certification programs by developing and maintaining interprovincial standards of qualification for Red Seal trades, in partnership with apprenticeship and certification stakeholders. To date, there are 55 trades included in the Red Seal Program on a national basis.Legislation permits provinces and territories to designate trades and develop apprenticeship programs for their own requirements. Thus, in excess of 300 apprenticeship programs are available across Canada. The Ellis Chart, a comparative chart of apprentice training programs across Canada, is produced by HRSDC in collaboration and consultation with the provinces and territories and provides training and certification details for all of these apprenticeable programs.

    How to obtain a Red Seal?
    In certain trades, holders of provincial and territorial Certificates of Qualification can apply to write an Interprovincial Examination; if successful, they receive a distinctive Red Seal, which is affixed to their Certificate of Qualification.

    An Interprovincial Standards Red Seal can be obtained in the trades designated as Red Seal by:
    – graduating from a recognized provincial or territorial apprenticeship training program; o
    – meeting requirements established by the provincial or territorial apprenticeship authority; or
    – having the time and experience working in a Red Seal trade assessed to qualify to write the Red Seal examination.
    – passing the interprovincial standards Red Seal examination for that trade.

  • Second Time Around

    Second Time Around

    It can be discouraging to look back at a portion of your life and realize that you were totally lost, not focused or, even worse, focused on things that really didn’t matter. Sometimes we can get down on ourselves because of this, blame ourselves for our failures and generally experience low self esteem because of mistakes made in the past. It is important to realize that your past mistakes are just that – mistakes that you’ve made in the past. If you are able to realize that they are just mistakes, you are on the right track.

    Mistakes are good because they are not regrets, but rather lessons. Mistakes are not the same thing as regrets. Mistakes are meant as a lesson about the right way to do something. For me, my lesson was going through a university undergrad degree without a sense of purpose and a secure sense for the rewards that come from hard work. During my undergraduate degree, I experienced at first a real sense of purpose and determination to do well, but this feeling gradually faded over the course of my five years in university. Whether due to a lack of rewards along the course of my years or a lack of feeling recognized for my efforts, I slowly lost the feeling of satisfaction from working hard and I lost sight of my goals.

    I know now, after having experienced my first mistake, that I can do better and that I can really and truly accomplish what I want to accomplish by setting goals and going about a second degree in a different way than my first degree.

    A good starting place when you are looking to re-do a mistake is to identify the areas of weakness in the past and make solid plans for improving upon those areas for success in the future. For me, I identified three weaknesses from my first undergraduate degree:

    1) Too much at once – My first undergraduate degree was a double major in French immersion, while working for the university, running a committee and trying to stay in great shape by working out every day. This overload created a depression in my mood and in my motivation to achieve my academic goals. I got to the point where I lost focus because I was trying to do too much at once. The second time around, I will be sure to have a manageable load of work and extracurricular activities.

    2) Choice of subject – My first undergraduate degree was a selection based on virtually no career plan. I chose something that I would find interesting and that would have enough substance to keep me interested for the length of the degree. When I chose my subject of study, I didn’t think about what I would do with the degree and there was not much thought about the future. This time around, I will be sure to plan my career and exactly what I will do with the degree.

    3) Clear academic goals – The first time around I lost track of what I wanted to achieve and why. I didn’t really have a career plan and didn’t motivate myself to achieve high grades because I didn’t have an end result in mind. This time around, I am looking to the career I want and educating myself on what it takes to get into that career. I want to get great grades in order to successfully continue my educational journey.

    Overall, it is important not to get down on oneself for having made mistakes in the past. It is important to look at mistakes as guides, teachers and lessons in what you want and how you can do better. Using mistakes in this manner will allow you to realize your dreams in a conscious way that you control.

  • What Is the Canada Student Loans Program?

    What Is the Canada Student Loans Program?

    The Canada Student Loans Program provides financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to post-secondary students who demonstrate financial need.

    Application Information
    – Students must first apply for a provincial or territorial student loan. Students are automatically considered for a Canada Student Loan when they apply for a provincial or territorial student loan.
    – Loan application forms are available from provincial and territorial student assistance offices and at financial aid offices in educational institutions.
    – Students must apply every year in order to receive funding.

    Important Information
    – Students must give loan providers proof of enrolment within six months of finishing their last study period in order to maintain interest-free status while studying. Confirmation of Enrolment forms are issued by educational institutions.
    – The governments of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Quebec do not participate in the Canada Student Loans Program but offer their own financial assistance programs for students.

    Student Loans
    Government student loans are a great way to help you pay for your post-secondary education at a designated college, university or other post-secondary institution.

    The Government of Canada and most provincial or territorial governments work together to deliver federal and provincial student loan and grant programs. This makes things simpler for you.

    – In Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, the Government of Canada and the provincial governments work together to provide financial assistance through Integrated Student Loans.
    – In Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada Student Loans and Grants are available alongside provincial or territorial student financial assistance.
    – In Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Quebec, Canada Student Loans are not available. These jurisdictions have their own student loan programs.
    – In Yukon, only Canada Student Loans and territorial Grants are available to permanent residents of the Yukon.

  • Youth Apprenticeship Programs

    Youth Apprenticeship Programs

    Youth apprenticeship programs are available in most provinces and territories. Check out the programs available in your area.

    Alberta
    The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) allows high school students to participate in an apprenticeship program while they are still attending school. RAP apprentices earn income as well as hours of on-the-job training and work experience as credit towards their apprenticeship program, and their high school diploma. Scholarships are also available for RAP students.

    British Columbia
    The Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) is a career program that provides students with the opportunity to begin an apprenticeship while still in high school, and to earn high school credits for doing so. It provides a smoother road from school to work, and a head start to an apprenticeship.

    ACE IT is an industry training program for high school students, with trade classes offered at colleges and sometimes at a high school. ACE IT programs involve a partnership of schools, employers and industry and provides funding for the first level of schooling. Local employers get involved in the development of ACE IT programs, leading to a higher employment rate following completion of the program.

    Manitoba
    The High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP) combines regular high school instruction with paid, part-time, on-the-job training. Students can earn up to 8 supplemental academic credits for graduation based on 110 working/practical hours per credit.

    Youth Build is a job training and pre-apprenticeship program whereby young people are working under the supervision of a journeyperson to renovate homes and develop building skills. Young people can attend the Youth Build Program full time, as an alternative to school. In Manitoba, there is a 30 hour per week paid vocational component and a 10 hour per week unpaid academic component.

    New Brunswick
    The Career Connections Program (CCP) offers students experience, hands-on paid work experience, and expands their essential employability skills.

    Newfoundland and Labrador
    Youth apprenticeship courses are available for high school students through Skilled Trades Jump Start Your Life.

    Northwest Territories
    The Schools North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP) is an opportunity for high school students to earn credit and pursue a career in the trades.

    Nova Scotia
    The Workit Youth Apprenticeship Initiative is open to youth between the ages of 16 and 19.

    Options and Opportunities (O2) offers students more hands-on learning experiences with a career focus. It’s designed to prepare students for successful transitions from high school to work, a career path, or a post-secondary program.

    Ontario
    The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a School to Work program that opens the door for students to explore and work in apprenticeship occupations starting in Grade 11 or Grade 12 through the Cooperative Education program.

    Prince Edward Island
    Youth Apprenticeship or Accelerated Secondary Youth Apprenticeship Program (ASAP)Youth Apprenticeship is for students wanting to explore their trade career options and gain a head-start on the post-secondary apprenticeship training program while working toward their Grade 12 diploma.

    Québec
    Québec offers vocational and technical education programs under the apprenticeship system, which are run jointly by Emploi-Québec and the Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport .

    Saskatchewan
    Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) raises awareness of apprenticeship in Saskatchewan schools by helping young people discover what rewards come with being a Youth Apprentice and working in the skilled trades.

    Yukon
    The Yukon Secondary School Apprenticeship Training program is open to Yukon secondary school students who would like to explore a skilled trade and complete high school at the same time.

  • Career Profile: Blacksmiths and Die Setters

    Career Profile: Blacksmiths and Die Setters

    Blacksmiths forge a variety of metal items, such as tools, chains, wrought iron fixtures, agricultural implements and structural components. Die setters set up forging machines, such as forging presses, drop hammers, forging rolls and upsetters. They are employed primarily by fabricated metal products, machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing companies.

    Main Duties
    Blacksmiths perform some or all of the following duties:
    -Heat metal items in forge
    -Hammer, punch, cut or otherwise form metal workpieces into desired shapes and sizes
    -Forge special tools from metal or devise special jigs or fixtures
    -Temper, harden or anneal forged items
    -Shape metal using power forging machinery.

    Die setters perform some or all of the following duties:
    -Select dies for forging according to work order and specifications
    -Position, align and bolt dies to ram and anvil of power presses and hammers
    -Check initial operation of forging machine to ensure that machine is set up properly for use by forging machine operators.

    Employment Requirements
    -Completion of secondary school is usually required.
    -On-the-job training is provided.
    -Several years of experience as a forging machine operator may be required.

  • Career Profile: Tourism Promoter

    Career Profile: Tourism Promoter

    Job Description
    A tourism promoter is someone who promotes tourism for a specific area by developing and organizing many of the events and attractions that draw tourists to that location. The other responsibilities of a tourism promoter are quite extensive and require a lot of communication and partnership with businesses, the local community and the public.
    Some of the other duties of a tourism promoter include:
    • Promoting potential and functioning tourist attractions through various advertising campaigns
    • Researching the overall approval rate of existing attractions in order to discover where improvements need to be made
    • Using the views, interests, and history of the local people to influence the development of new attractions
    • Advising local tourism businesses on what they can do to contribute to the overall tourism of the area
    • Writing press releases and articles for tourism guides, magazines, and newsletters; organizing special events, holiday shows, exhibitions, and festivals (attendance is often required)

    Salary and Conditions
    The salaries of tourism promoters differ based on factors such as the location, the employer, and the amount of tourists that the location receives. However, the average starting salary of a tourism promoter is around $26,000-$30,000. After about two years of work, the salary may increase to about $35,000-$40,000 and after five years, $45,000-$58,000. In some cases, quality of work may positively or negatively influence the salary. Typically, a tourism promoter works a 37 hour week. Since the job requires a lot of involvement with planning, organizing, and attending social events, many additional hours may be spent working. The majority of work is done in an office or a similar environment. Sometimes the job calls for work to be done at various locations around the community or at specific attraction sites. Most tourism promoters work individually but it is not uncommon for them to work in teams.

    Just like any other career, working as a tourism promoter has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the benefits are being able to travel overseas to other tourist attractions, receiving invitations to exclusive exhibitions, and events, and receiving credit for new successful attractions. Some of the disadvantages are having to meet strict deadlines, dealing with criticism from the public and the media, working late nights, and having your presence mandatory at certain events. One of the main disadvantages has to do with the fact that a tourism promoter is not necessarily needed everywhere in the world. So a job in this career may be relatively difficult to find.

    Education
    A career as a Tourism Promoter is an option for all graduates and people with a diploma. However, achievements in certain subjects can significantly increase the probability of getting a job as a tourism promoter. Some of those subjects are tourism management, archive and museum studies, business management, journalism, modern languages, marketing, media studies, town planning, urban/rural regeneration, and environmental/sustainability studies.

    Having extensive post-secondary education may not be as important for tourism promoters, but experience and communication skills play a major role in this type of job. Activities such as helping at social events, working with tourism-related businesses, and being familiar with local attractions can be considered experience.

    If you think tourism promotion could be right for you, do more research on the field and start working toward your dream career!

  • Canada Apprentice Loan

    Canada Apprentice Loan

    Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes to create the Canada Apprentice Loan by expanding the Canada Student Loans Program to provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.

    Apprentices in skilled trades do most (80 to 85 per cent) of their learning during on-the-job paid employment. They are also required to participate in technical training for short periods of time ranging from six to eight weeks each year. Apprentices can face significant costs to complete these periods of technical training required by their program, including educational fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone wages. These costs can be particularly acute for apprentices who intend to complete their training after a number of years on the job, while supporting their families.

    Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes to create the Canada Apprentice Loan, which will offer interest-free loans to help registered apprentices with the cost of their training. The Canada Apprentice Loan will assist more apprentices in completing their training and encourage more Canadians to consider a career in the skilled trades.

    Apprentices registered in their first Red Seal trade apprenticeship will be able to apply for interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training. Interest charges and repayment of Canada Apprentice Loans will not begin until after loan recipients complete or terminate their apprenticeship training program. At least 26,000 apprentices per year are expected to apply for over $100 million in loans. The estimated net cost of these loans to the Government would be $25.2 million over two years and $15.2 million per year ongoing.

  • Get Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    Get Your 40 Volunteer Hours

    As you know, all high school students need to have 40 hours of community service in order to graduate. Use this information to discover where your 40 hours can best be used.

    Volunteer Centres work in local communities to strengthen volunteering and citizen engagement. With more than 200 in Canada, each volunteer centre’s name, size, structure and services reflect the unique characteristics of their community.

    To find a volunteer centre in your area, click here.

    Many volunteer centres are independent non-profit organizations, while others are part of a United Way, Social Planning Council, Community Information and Referral Centre or municipal services. Though diverse in many ways, they share the following common functions:

    – Promote volunteering

    – Build the capacity of organizations to engage volunteers

    – Facilitate connections between people with volunteer opportunities

    – Provide leadership on issues related to volunteering and citizen engagement

    If you want to volunteer, your local volunteer centre is there to connect you to opportunities in your community. It may have a database of volunteer opportunities or can connect you directly to opportunities within its member organizations.