2010 June News.pdf - Central Okanagan School District No. 23

8
Utility Arborist
Apprenticeship Program
In a training partnership with the Electrical Industry
Training Institute (EITI) secondary school students receive
specialized training from (EITI) instructors as well
as from our Rutland Senior Secondary Forest Resources
teachers, Al Kolkind and Wayne Price. This unique
partnership was recognized with a signing ceremony
on May 26, 2008, and was the first dual-credit Utility
Arborist Apprenticeship Program established in Canada.
The partnership between EITI and School District No. 23 provides an exciting
avenue for young people to enter this very technically demanding trade. The
apprenticeship program expands the number of viable and rewarding career
paths available to students. Utility Arborists are constantly in demand. They
prune or clear vegetation such as fallen trees in proximity to electrical equipment,
structures, conductors or power lines. Essential in every community
across Canada, Utility Arborists put themselves in challenging situations to
maintain power to community hospitals, schools, residents, and business.
Half of the Utility Arborist course content is taught by an EITI journeyperson
trainer and the other half by RSS’s Forest Resources teachers, Al Kolkind and
Wayne Price. The Forest Resources program runs full-time for one semester
in Grade 11 and another full semester in Grade 12. The program can accommodate
up to 18 students.
This apprenticeship program allows Forest Resources students to earn their
Utility Arborist Level One certification. The Utility Arborist program is
approved by the Industry Training Authority, which provides funding to the
EITI for the program. The students are enrolled in the ACE-IT program,
also sponsored by the ITA. Once students complete Level One training,
their teachers help them prepare for the written course and exam. Successful
completion of the course, exam and a requisite number of work hours allows
students to continue to Level Two to attain their journeyperson status.
17 students registered for the Utility Arborist Apprenticeship program in our
February ACE-IT Intake. �
“The certified Utility Arborist Level One training this year was our most successful
session yet. Fifteen out of seventeen students climbed to the required 50 feet in a
tree. Three students climbed 130 feet to the top of several large Douglas firs.
One of the students was hired at the end of training and is now working with
Davey Tree as an apprentice to become a certified Utility Arborist!
All the students will return next year to complete their bridge course so that they
are ready for certified Utility Arborist Level Two.
Students felt that the certified Utility Arborist training was the most exciting, and
intense section of the Forestry course.”
Utility Arborist Students
February 2010 Intake
Joshua Boehlke
James Boucher
Kyle Brown
Joelene Cyr
Travis Dickson
Miles Doherty
Brayden Jurome
Dillon Kakoschke
Kody Krenn
Jesse Mitchell
Eric Ponton
Brittany Rowen
Derek Sawatzky
Jordyn Smith
Garett Trottier
Michael Vasconcelos
Robert Wiebe