by Heidi Hackman & Colleen McNamee, District Career Coordinators, SD 63 | photo by Kathryn Alvarez Photography –
If there was an award for a student who took advantage of dual credit and career opportunities while in high school, Matt Stewart would win hands down. When you open his career folder it is full of applications, acceptance letters and strong, positive feedback from his instructors and employers.
When Matt was in Grade 10 at Stelly’s Secondary School, he applied for the Saanich School Districts TASK (Trades Awareness Skills and Knowledge) Program. He knew traditional schooling was not for him, but wasn’t sure what trade he would like the most. In this program students are exposed to eight different trades and at the end of it, plumbing and pipe fitting caught Matt’s interest as, in his words: “no two days are the same and every day presents a different challenge and experience as well as it’s a career I can see myself in long term.”
At the end of Grade 11 he applied to Camosun College for the dual credit Foundation/Level 1 Pipe Trades program, hoping for a seat in the second semester of his Grade 12 year. In order to complete his application, however, Matt needed 30 hours of direct work experience with a plumber.
In the summer of 2022 everyone was excited to have more restrictions lifted and programs return. One program that returned was the Federal Summer Work Experience Program (FSWEP) with the Department of National Defence (DND). Matt applied for this program for the piping trades and was accepted. He had eight weeks of a youth apprenticeship working in Esquimalt at the fleet maintenance facility, Cape Breton. His 30 hours were complete and a spot in the Camosun program was secured. Earning credit in a different way can be hard for parents but Matt’s mom Raegan said she was “excited for him to experience this new chapter of schooling. I was a bit worried with his age going to Camosun, but it all has been a smooth transition.”
During his second week of the Camosun program, Matt’s supervisor at DND called and asked if he would like to start working there once he completed his Foundation/Level 1 program. Matt didn’t hesitate to say yes! “I wanted to go back to DND because of how diverse it is,” says Matt. “There are so many different people with so many different experiences I can learn from. I’m most excited to return to DND because all of the opportunities I will have while working there.”
Matt’s advice to students: “There isn’t one program I would recommend over another; my opinion is take as many as you can and find out what you like and what you don’t like. Go out of your comfort zone and maybe you will find a trade you want to pursue.”
Raegan’s advice for other parents: “This is a great opportunity for your child to learn new skills in many different trades. Encourage them to take this course and fly.” Fly is exactly what Matt is doing!
