Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
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For the first time in ten years, a Jasper Junior Senior High School student has graduated through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP).
Trenton Rea said RAP is a great alternative to the conventional educational route.
"RAP has allowed me to get out of the school, experience life, get into the workforce, meet awesome people - and I'm going to get my Red Seal in plumbing," he said.
RAP is designed for students who identify their career interests before they graduate, and can learn and practice their future trade while they're still in school. There are a huge variety of trades and occupations available in the program, from baker to carpenter to electrician to ironworker to motorcycle mechanic.
RAP students are both full time students and registered apprentices; their time is spent at an approved work site and on their high school studies, including English language, arts, social studies, science and math.
After talking with his brother, Koltin Rea about the RAP program, Rea signed up with Dave The Plumber Ltd., where Koltin works. It's owned and operated by Dave Ewanchook and Barb Barker, who are like family, he said.
His first day on the job there was July 3, 2019, and Rea completed the program requirements at the end of January, 2020.
"I'm working toward a first year journeyman [status]," he said.
"It's hands-on learning. Dave or Koltin shows it to me, then sometimes I'll do it, if I'm allowed. It's not the same thing every day. Sometimes I'll be doing the same thing for a week, other times I'll be doing something different every day; there's more variety."
Rea has done a number of repairs including fixing a sink, fixing deep fryers and ovens, snaking drains, cleaning pumps on septic tanks, replacing zone valves, and servicing furnaces.
In addition to the appeal of working with family, Rea said plumbing is a good pick because "it's not going anywhere”.
“As long as humans exist, plumbing is going to be needed,” he said.
“I'm pretty young, so I'll have plenty of time to do other things."
Rea’s hard work has paid off - both financially and in high school credits. RAP students get one credit for every 25 hours worked and Rea has gained a total of 36 credits in one semester
"Twenty-five hours for one credit sounds like a lot, but in about a week, you can get one, two, sometimes three credits," he pointed out.
RAP can be a great avenue for many students, Rea emphasized, as another way to learn valuable life skills.
"The school system hasn't been updated in awhile," he said. "It's based on you needing to remember, to recite, and to do. So the teacher tells you what to do, teaches you, you do the work, write a test, the teacher grades you on it, and you forget it.
"The school needs to make it more clear that RAP is available, it's a way to graduate, it's a way to experience life, and it's a way to (start) a career."
Eric Bouchard, off-campus coordinator at the high school, said the program helps students move into the workforce earlier, and it recognizes different learning styles students have.
He said: "When an employer takes them on, they become apprentices and they have to be paid. They're paid to work and they're gaining high school credits at the same time. The hours they're working go toward credit; one credit for every 25 hours."
Rea clocked 1,000 hours at Dave The Plumber Ltd., the maximum allowed in RAP.
The key, Bouchard said, is matching what a student is interested in with prospective employers.
"I've had hairdressing salons interested in taking on an apprentice, but just haven't had any students interested in the field," he said.
When Rea expressed interest in plumbing, Ewanchook and Barker welcomed him to their business.
"It worked out well for Trenton," Barker said.
"It was very good. I think Trenton enjoyed it and he seemed to learn a lot. It instilled confidence in him and I think it was a turning point for him. He is pleasant to work with."
Rea has to work more hours to complete the first year requirements and as soon as Dave the Plumber has enough work, he’ll be back on board.
Barker noted it takes four years of training to be a journeyman plumber, including two months of technical training in each of those years.
Bouchard said Rea's accomplishment is a milestone.
"This is a moment of celebration for us,” he said.
"As kids are moving on, I want to point out that Trenton worked hard, both academically and in this apprenticeship.
“On behalf of the high school, I'd like to thank Dave The Plumber Ltd., for taking Trenton on, Dave Ewanchook and Barb Barker, for supporting our students at Jasper High School. We're celebrating the fact that they're helping us out."
