Saw Trades Update May 2017 The annual BC Sawfilers Convention was held on April 28 & 29 at the Coast Conference in Kamloops BC. It was very well attended by 170 Sawfilers & other sawmill support staff; with vendors included we had almost 300 attending the conference over the weekend. The Hotel hosted a sold out catered banquet Friday evening. With 220 in attendance, we were entertained by comedian Brian Stollery. Fridays trade show had 36 companies displaying their products and services available to our industry.
Great news with much anticipated Bench course scheduled for late 2017 and another tentatively planned for the spring of 2018… see course dates below. Greg Daykin / TRU Saw Trades Instructor has developed the course curriculum & daily lesson plans for all 3 levels of the Trade. Even though space is very limited in the shop, more instructional materials are always needed and greatly appreciated. Greg is asking filers for various “videos” on specific tasks performed by Sawfilers such as; heatline bandsaws, lineups, cross lining band mills, band mill wheel grinds. Anything “industry” can do to help will only strengthen the program and provide better Journeymen for the filing room. Greg who wants to retire but has thankfully stayed on to follow the Bench level through to iron out any kinks in the program.
Baldev Pooni / Dean of Trades @ TRU spoke on the curriculum and the needs of the saw trades program. TRU is still in the hunt for a Saw Trades Instructor; if interested, contact Baldev for more information & requirements; see contact information below.
Brian Shale – Maintenance Leader for Tolko Industries was a keynote speaker at the convention. He reported that BC & Alberta have a combined total of more than 60 sawmills employing more than 400 saw filers. In the next 5 years, at least 100 of those filers will be retiring. It goes without saying how important it is that we continue to support our Trade school and continue to grow the saw trades program in BC.
Materials / Equipment needed for TRU Sawfilers Trade School:- 220 Tig Welder
- 24” – 48” Pi Tape
- Swages & Shapers, & consumables (saws, carbide, Diamond & bandsaw grinding wheels) Call Greg directly for specific requirements
…check your boneyards for equipment no longer used or needed! (TRU will issue a tax receipt for donated equipment.)
The following is a breakdown of all classes; that have taken place @ the Sawfilers Trade School / TRU Williams Lake campus to date.
YEAR APPR #s LEVEL 1 APPR #s LEVEL 2 APPR #s (Bench Level)2013 15 9
2014 13 16
2015 16 15
2016 26 27
2017 16
15 (May) 16 (June) 16 (Sept) 16 (Oct) TOTAL 86 67
BOLD font indicates upcoming scheduled classes (taken from the Trades Training BC website). The upcoming class numbers in bold are not included in the overall total for each level.
2017 Scheduled Sawfiler Couse dates @ TRU Williams Lake BC: Level 1: March 27, 2017 – May 5, 2017
Level 2: May 8, 2017 – June 2, 2017
Benchperson: June 5, 2017 – June 30, 2017
Level 1: September 11, 2017 – October 20, 2017
Level 2: October 23, 2017 – November 17, 2017
Benchperson: (Spring of 2018 Tentative)
LinksITA’s (Industry Training Authority) website –
www.itabc.caITA Apprenticeship Advisors (AAs) – Located throughout BC, the AA’s can provide guidance and support to apprentices and employer sponsors:
http://www.itabc.ca/our-trades-training-system/apprenticeship-advisors• Program Outline – Provides guidelines for the delivery of technical training.
• Program Profile – Describes the certification requirements for apprentices and challengers.
• Exam Weighting Chart – Shows the approximate percentage of weighting per General Area of Competency (GAC).
• Saw Filer webpage – Saw Filer | ITA BC
• Benchperson webpage – Saw Filer Endorsement: Benchperson | ITA BC
• Trades Training BC - Saw Filer - Apprenticeship Schedules
• ITA Customer Service Toll Free: 866-660-6011
Queen’s Printer – Saw Filer Manuals are available for purchase at:
• Web –
www.crownpub.bc.ca• Email –
crownpub@gov.bc.caTRU (Thompson River University)
http://www.tru.ca/williamslake/programs/trades.htmlBC Saw Filer’s Association –
http://www.bcsawfilers.com/ If Apprentices wish to challenge an exam, Supervisor / Headfiler have any questions about the school or need help with Apprentice enrolment; don’t hesitate to call the appropriate person on the provided contact list. On Apprenticeship related questions, first contact ITA’s Customer Service or the Regional Apprenticeship Advisor that covers the area of the Province that you work.
Please forward / share / print copies & post in your filing room, for any that may be interested. This newsletter will also be posted on the BC Sawfilers Association website in the “Discussion Forum”. If you would like to see something included in these Newsletters send me an email.
If you wish to be removed from these updates, please let me know.
Cheers…
John Hebert
Headfiler
Gorman Bros. Lumber Ltd.
Phone: 250-768-6231
Cell: 250-870-1960
List of ContactsITAITA Customer Service 778-328-8700
Toll Free 866-660-6011
e-mail
customerservice@itabc.ca Collen Rogan Manager Program Standards
Office 778-327-5889
Cel 778-388-7473
e-mail
crogan@itabc.caJeff Roos Senior Manager / IFLRA
Office 250-860-3592
e-mail
Jroos@iflra.comFinbar Osullivan Regional Apprentiship Advisor
Office 250-808-9352
e-mail
osullivan@itabc.caTRUGreg Daykin Saw Trades Instructor
Office 250-392-8113
Cel 250-617-9553
e-mail
greg52@telus.netJulie Dekowny Apprentiship Co-ordinator
Office 250-371-5659
e-mail
jdekowny@tru.caThomas Haag Apprentiship Co-Chairperson
Office 250-828-5119
e-mail
thaag@tru.caPeter Poescheck Apprentiship Co-Chairperson
Office 250-828-5113
e-mail
poeschek@tru.caBaldev Pooni Dean of Trades
Office 250-828-5110
Cel 250-574-8977
e-mail
bpooni@tru.caSAWFILERSMartin Vatkin BC Sawfilers / President
Office 250-679-3234
Cel 250-833-2452
e-mail
marty.vatkin@interfor.comMatt Graves BC Sawfilers / Secretary
Office
Cel 250-306-7106
e-mail
matt.graves@tolko.com John Hebert Gorman Bros Lumber / Headfiler
Office 250-768-6231
Cel 250-870-1960
e-mail
johnhebert@gormanbros.com