Words Heidi Hackman, District Career Coordinators, SD 63
Photo Wind Gypsy Photography
In this column we usually highlight students who have found an alternate path to graduation, through a career program. This month we will be diving a little deeper to illustrate that within a chosen career path there are multiple ways to achieve the same milestone. This summer three Saanich students all completed their Level 1 Auto Technician program, but by taking three very different routes.
Ethan Gillespie (pictured), a SIDES student, chose a pathway that combined flexible online learning with on-the-job training. The flexibility of SIDES allowed Ethan to work as a Youth Work in Trades apprentice at Prospect Lake Auto while completing his high school courses.
After accumulating more than 700 hours of workplace experience, Ethan worked with his career teacher, Rhiannon Cockayne, to apply to Camosun College’s Level 1 Automotive Service Technician apprenticeship training. Because students entering this six-week program already have significant hands-on experience, the training focuses primarily on automotive theory and technical knowledge. Students then write a Certificate of Qualification exam to earn their Level 1 certification. Completing this Level 1 Apprenticeship program also gave Ethan eight Grade 12 credits towards graduation.
His mom Kali recommends these programs as “they provided a seamless way to complete the graduation requirements, gain valuable paid work experience and helped Ethan develop personal agency in the process.”
Theo Leduc-Wright, a recent Stelly’s French Immersion graduate, took a different route. Unlike Ethan, Theo had limited experience working in an automotive shop, but he knew he wanted to pursue a career in the automotive industry.
For Theo, the ideal option was the Automotive Foundation Program at Camosun College. This seven-month program combines classroom theory with extensive hands-on training, providing students with the skills and experience needed to enter the trade. Theo excelled in the program and developed both his technical abilities and his confidence. There are 18 seats in a Foundation Program and two of the seats are available to qualified high school students through the South Island Partnership. That means two seats available for all of the high schools in the South Island – very coveted seats for sure.
Brodie Meeres, also a recent graduate of Stelly’s Secondary School, followed a different route as the two seats in the Foundation program were taken. He completed his Level 1 training through the Esquimalt High Automotive Program, a partnership that allows students to focus full-time on automotive studies during the second semester.
From February to May, students attend Esquimalt High School to develop practical automotive skills. In May, they transition to Camosun College to complete the six-week theoretical portion of their apprenticeship training. The program is supported by district partnerships, with Kevin Blesic, Vice-Principal of Pathways and Partnerships in SD61, working collaboratively with neighbouring districts to ensure available seats are filled whenever space permits.
Ethan, Theo, and Brodie all arrived at the same destination, earning their Level 1 Automotive Service Technician training, but each took a unique path to get there. Their experiences highlight the variety of opportunities available to students interested in the skilled trades and demonstrate that success can be achieved through multiple educational pathways.
For more information on Saanich School District Career programs or the Youth Work in Trades program, please contact Heidi Hackman at hhackman@saanichshcools.ca.
