Modernising roofing apprenticeships in New Brunswick

By Emma Peterson.

After identifying challenges with recruitment, communication and outdated curriculum, industry leaders worked together to create a training program designed around the realities of the roofing trade.

About a decade ago, the New Brunswick Roofing Contractors Association (NBRCA) sat down with the Apprenticeship and Occupational Branch of the government of New Brunswick to talk about the logistical challenges related to the roofing apprenticeship trade. From this discussion, three primary issues were identified:

1. A lack of interest in the apprenticeships from youth.
2. Communication issues related to counsellors, contractors and apprentices in the program.
3. Out of date curriculum leading to apprentices struggling post-graduation.

After identifying these overarching issues, the discussion turned to how the apprenticeship program could be reorganised and refreshed to overcome the identified challenges. The first step they came up with was increased communication between the Apprenticeship and Occupational Branch and the contractors in the field, facilitated by NBRCA.

The second step was the creation of a new training facility that would host updated apprenticeship activities as well as house the office of NBRCA. On their website, NBRCA shares some insight into this facility:

In August 2016 the Contractors purchased a building at 1010 Fairville Blvd in Saint John. This building would house the office of the New Brunswick Roofing Contractors Association, the Master Roofers Guarantee of New Brunswick Ltd., as well as be the Roofing Training Centre for the Province of New Brunswick Apprenticeship Program. It would consist of offices as well as a classroom and a 3,000 square feet practical area that the apprentices could actual work on a variety of roof mockups.

By the end of 2017, this facility and the partnership between contractors and the Apprenticeship and Occupation Branch officially launched a new apprenticeship program in partnership with the New Brunswick Community College. The program featured three unique blocks, each running six weeks and totalling 5,400 hours of employment in the trade, designed to equip participants with the skills needed to succeed post-graduation.

Learn more on the NBRCA website.