Joseph is a 22 year old Vancouver resident who, after completing an Electrical Foundation Program at the College of the Rockies, could not find employment with any employer even after visiting literally dozens and dozens of them. He was frustrated and did not know what to do. In fact, he was considering giving up on his dream to be an Electrician until he discovered the STEP program.

STEP helped him find direction, interviews, focus and an employment position in the trade of Electrician…his dream trade.  Joseph’s boss and employer is an established Electrician. He is efficient and has a work ethic which he demands from all his young apprentices.  He said to me that Joseph is “cut from the same cloth” he is…a real workhorse!

As an outcome of working with his TES and using the STEP resources, he is working as a first year Apprentice Electrician with ICS Electric Ltd.

It’s difficult to begin summarizing Twyla Owen, not because there is not enough to say, but more so, because there is so much. At thirty-two Twyla has already accomplished much in her life through her own determination and hard work.

Twyla first became associated with the STEP program through an information session held for the Women in Trades program that she and STEP were participating in. Her hope through this association was to receive certifications, make employer contacts and receive the elusive employment offer. When Twyla was finished with the WITT program a meeting was set-up to speak with the TES from the STEP program to develop a plan or rather a partnership between the two that would result in employment success for Twyla. It was also the start of a great relationship that began over a year ago and still exists today. 

All it took to place Twyla into a new position were a few tweaks to a resume, a few coaching sessions, a great employer with a long-term opportunity, a CSTS course and an interview.  Twyla’s great attitude combined with her strong work ethic is what has enabled her to still be with that same employer, and now in a capacity of second year carpenter’s apprentice. She still maintains contact with STEP and lets her TES know how it’s going.  She shares her future plans, achievements both professionally and personally, new construction site jokes that she has heard and also what she plans next. Perhaps after her Journeyman Carpenter status is achieved she will become an Electrician. We can only wait and see, but it is most likely that STEP will still be there for her next accomplishment.

Walid was born in the town of Elgenena, Sudan in 1976. He fled Sudan when war broke out in his country and landed in a refugee camp in Egypt for 3 years. At this time he was 30 years old. Life in Egypt was very difficult, he arrived there with nothing. He found it very difficult to find a job. After the refugee camp, he lived in Alexandria for another three years where he studied to be a welder. He managed after three years to leave Egypt and made his way to Vancouver.

When he arrived in Vancouver he had a contact number for a case manager. He initially stayed at the Welcome House in downtown Vancouver for a month and then was helped by someone in the Sudanese Community to find an apartment. The case manager was the one that helped Walid get in contact with Matthew Stevenson and STEP.

Walid’s life in Canada is all about change. He came from halfway around the world to a new life and it is definitely a significant change. He says that STEP has saved his life and allowed his new life to start in Canada. He feels that STEP has helped him improve himself in many ways that may not even be discernible at this moment.

Image provided by Patrick Hemingway.

Julio’s desire to live in peace is not strange considering what he went through right before he moved to Canada. Julio had been working on a special project to set up a telephone network in the jungle of Columbia for a company when he was kidnapped by an illegal army and held for ransom. It was a very scary time for Julio and his wife, Rosemary, was terribly afraid.

Julio Cesar Robayo-Velasco was born in Manizales, Colombia. He grew up in the small city in the Western part of the country and studied civil engineering there. After graduating from University, he worked for a while in Manizales before moving to the capital city of Bogota. When he moved to Bogota he was working for a company, but later he set up his own company with his wife, Rosemary, who is an architect. The two of them had their company together for 15 years. He lived and worked in Bogota for almost 25 years before moving to Canada.

Julio enrolled in the STEP program and found that it has been very helpful with giving him direction and advice on programs to take. STEP was also essential in helping him find his present job. Julio knows that STEP has been more successful than other programs, because it is directly involved with the industry.