Young people who enjoy working with their hands should give serious consideration to a career in the trowel trades – bricklaying, stone masonry, marble masonry and tile setting.
So says Ira Maheu, who is the apprenticeship and training co-ordinator of the in B.C.
“The trowel trades are a great career and there is plenty of work available for tradespeople,” says Maheu.
For example, because of the broad range of materials they work with, bricklayers have many ways to use their trowels.
They build and repair walls, floors, arches, pavings, fireplaces, chimneys, smokestacks, furnaces and kilns.
“The work can vary in complexity from a simple masonry walkway to an ornate exterior on a multi-level building,” says Maheu. “You can find this kind of work in various sectors as well, including industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) and residential.
“Because of the diversity of applications and industries, there is no shortage of work available in the trade.”
The TTTA has been training union and non-union apprentices who are registered with SkilledTradesBC (formerly the Industry Training Authority), the organization in charge of British Columbia’s trades training system, since 1993.
TTTA training generally takes four years to complete and combines technical training and work-based training.
“The courses have both theoretical and practical components,” Maheu says. “However, the bulk of the time is spent in the shop, which allows us to replicate the many different on-the-job scenarios you might find throughout your time as a bricklayer.”
After they’ve completed their training, the apprentices will be eligible for Red Seal certification, which is recognized across the country.
The TTTA training facility is centrally located in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.
“Our facility has one classroom and one boardroom that is frequently used as a classroom,” says Maheu. “In addition, we have a large shop space that can be divided and can accommodate two classes at the same time.”
The TTTA has instructors for concrete finishing and bricklaying, who teach a variety of courses.
The Bricklayer Level 1 course began Sept. 8 and runs to Oct. 16. Concrete Finisher Level 1 begins Nov. 16 and concludes Dec. 18.
Bricklaying course starts in late October. Other courses begin in
“We’re here to make sure you have the technical knowledge and hands-on training needed to step into a very rewarding career,” Maheu says.
The B.C. provincial government recently announced it is doubling its funding for skilled trades training – including training in the trowel trades – with an investment of $241 million over three years.
“This is exciting news for our apprentices, future apprentices and trainers at the Trowel Trades Training Association,” said the TTTA in an announcement. “We hope this investment allows more British Columbians to pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”
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