KAMLOOPS – Provincial Skills Canada gold medal winner Graeme Herman started his joinery career early.

“I’ve always been into creating stuff and using my imagination, from when I was little playing with Lego,” he said.
“When I got to high school, I took shop class, and discovered I really liked working with wood.”
It’s not the first time the TRU joinery student, who graduates from the six-month trade entry program this June, has been involved in Skills Canada competition. As a Valleyview Secondary school student, he placed second in the province in cabinet-making, and last year as a TRU student, he placed third in construction.

This year’s first place finish in joinery means that he’ll be traveling to Edmonton at the beginning of June to compete in the national competition.

“I wasn’t expecting to place first,” he said. “Jeff was confident in me, though, and that helped. I’m nervous about competing in the nationals, but I’ll just do my best, and try to have fun.”

Herman is currently employed at Top 40 Woodworks. His future plans include completing his joinery apprenticeship, and then starting his own business, probably in Kamloops.

“Graeme is destined for a long and productive career in the joinery trade,” commented his instructor, Jeff Collett.

For more information, please contact Bronwen Scott by phone at 250-828-5739 or email.