Success Stories

On a chilly March day on Vancouver Island, we met up with Aaron at his job site – a helicopter facility under construction at Victoria International Airport. We found him waiting for us in the Apollo Sheet Metal trailer.

After taking some good-natured ribbing from his co-workers about “getting ready for his close-up”, we set off with Aaron to find out more about his experience with STEP and his new career path.

It’s clear from the warm smile on his face and his positive energy that Aaron likes his work as a first year apprentice sheet metal worker.

“It’s interesting. And it’s challenging, which I really enjoy. Each day seems to bring something different – I like it, and I think it’s going to be a good career move.”

Aaron is part of a six-person crew, arriving on site at 7 am to begin each day.  He says he is pleasantly surprised by how much of his work requires close collaboration with the other trades on the job site, he nevertheless is happy to be in the sheet metal trade.

“I like working with my hands, being able to build things. Before I started here, I was working with a small construction company as a general labourer. Before that, I was installing office furniture in government buildings. I wanted to get into the trades and onto a better career path, and sheet metal worker was high up on my list… so I’m really happy to be doing this.”

Pausing for a minute to brush some site dirt off his pant leg, Aaron reflects on the role STEP has played for him.

“I was at the point where I knew I wasn’t going to go any further at my other jobs. STEP made it possible for me to give it a shot, to try to improve my situation. STEP is there to help and it’s absolutely a tool that you can use to help you achieve your goals.”

Aaron is a husband and father with two young girls at home. He says that responsibility continues to be a big part of his motivation for developing his skills and improving his earning potential.

“I think it’s going to provide a much better life for both of my girls. That’s something I’m really excited about as well.”

Aaron isn’t the only family member pleased with the change. He tells us his wife is very supportive, though the first year has put some financial strains on their household.  As Aaron says: “She can see that I enjoy my job, and that in the long run it’s definitely going to pay off.”

Aaron has a plan and knows what’s in front of him.

“My ultimate goal is to become a journeyman, which should take me approximately four years,” explains Aaron.  “At that point I’ll be able to make a good living doing this, and I already know I enjoy the job.”

The ultimate test of how much you really like something is whether you’re willing to recommend it to others, and when we ask Aaron if he’s comfortable recommending STEP he doesn’t hesitate.

“Yes. I’ve already recommended STEP to a friend of mine. It’s a great program. It’s been a tremendous experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to make a change and improve their life,” says Aaron.

When asked if he has any special advice, Aaron doesn’t sugar coat.

“It’s so tough to take that first step, to just really put yourself out there,” he admits. “So my advice is to give it a shot. It’s gonna be hard. But it’s totally worth it. STEP is here to help and it’s something I’m very grateful for.”

We had to let Aaron get back to work. Watching him enter the job site and crunch over a hill of gravel in his steel toe boots, more than one of us – preparing to head back to our office cubicles – was wondering if maybe the trades might be right for us too.

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.