The Ministry of Advanced Education recently announced it would pay for 16 seats in the Foundation millwright program. Years of lobbying for a millwright program at TRU has paid off. Now, with the necessary approvals in place, the first students are expected this August.
The program is a go thanks to the recently-opened NorKam Trades and Technology Centre located at NorKam Secondary and to the solid relationship TRU has with School District 73, which operates the centre. The new space has the shop and classroom requirements along with the tools and equipment. TRU faculty will provide instruction and the courses offered will grow to eventually range from pre-apprenticeship Foundation through fourth-year apprentice.
“Millwright is one of the top-priority trades in BC and it is so exciting to bring this opportunity to Kamloops,” said TRU Dean of Trades Dr. Lindsay Langill. “Being able to expand our local trade offerings to students and apprentices in this region is vastly important because we are surrounded by industries relying on millwrights.”
Millwrights are industrial mechanics who, according to the Industry Training Authority BC website, “install, repair, overhaul and maintain machinery and heavy mechanical equipment, such as conveyor systems in diverse settings including repair shops, plants, construction sites, mines, logging operations, ski hills and most production and manufacturing facilities.”
Learn more about Trades programs at TRU
TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shaver said offering the millwright program is “one more example of two long-time friends achieving something bigger by putting their heads together. The long term partnership between TRU and SD73 allowed us to solve this challenge as a team. This supports the belief that examining problems from different viewpoints leads to innovative solutions.”
The announcement also provided one-time money for 18 additional seats each in the Foundation programs in carpentry, heavy mechanical, and welding at TRU.
Media inquiries
Dr. Lindsay Langill, Dean Trades and Technology
Thompson Rivers University
Email: 250-828-5110
Phone: lblangill@tru.ca
