TransCanada partners with CWA Foundation for welding camps

In July the CWA Foundation announced a partnership with TransCanada Corp. to support the foundation’s Mind over Metal welding camps to be run in select schools across British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. In some high schools, the company will also provide the equipment required to facilitate a camp and/or equipment for their welding program.

TransCanada is one of North America's leading energy infrastructure companies with operations in the natural gas, oil, and power industries. The announcement was made at Northern Lights College in Dawson Creek, B.C.

“The most important thing about this partnership is that we are working towards a similar goal. The CWA Foundation’s key mandates are to address the welding skills trades shortage in Canada, and to increase awareness of public safety in welding. TransCanada employs welders right across the country, which makes this partnership a really good fit,” said Deborah Mates, executive director of the CWA Foundation. “I also think that the partnership is a model for other industry partners. Because TransCanada has welders across the country, having access to young talent has a direct impact on their business. The camps that we’re doing, the focus on safety, and the other initiatives we are working on will directly affect their access to qualified welders in the future.”

“The great thing about the CWA Foundation is they not only support the students in the Mind over Metal camps, but also provide teacher training, so shop class/welding instructors have the resources they need to introduce youth to welding in a safe and engaging environment,” said Leanne LeBlanc, community partnership advisor, public affairs and communications, TransCanada.

TransCanada was first introduced to the foundation at the 2016 Skills Canada National Competition, where the company was one of the presenting sponsors. CWA Foundation partnered with TransCanada to facilitate a welding demonstration for attendees. Afterward, TransCanada representatives were invited to attend a Mind over Metal camp.

“After seeing the camp in action and meeting the students and the instructors, we knew CWA Foundation would be a good fit within our community investment program,” said LeBlanc.

“Trades like pipefitting and welding are obviously major components of pipeline construction, but as a leading North American energy infrastructure company, we also work closely with local businesses who employ a variety of skilled tradesmen and -women,” LeBlanc continued. “With $24 billion in short-term capital growth projects on the horizon, we know we are going to need local skilled trades workers. What better way to secure that workforce than investing in the talented tradesmen and -women of tomorrow?”

LeBlanc also likes that the program focuses on some of the basics of working in the trades, like how to use a measuring tape, and the importance of safety gear.

“We want to ensure that we encourage youth to pursue transferable trades, like welding, so they have the option of working in different industries and having more job security as an adult,” she continued.

The schools involved in the pilot years of this partnership (2017 and 2018) were chosen based on two factors: Are they in communities where TransCanada employees operate, and are they on the CWA wait list.

“At TransCanada, we give back to the communities where we live, work, and operate because it is part of being an employer of choice, a good neighbor, and a trusted community partner,” said LeBlanc. “With a footprint as large as ours, it was easy to find Canadian communities that met both criteria.”

Both organizations concentrate some of their funding and resources to directly support indigenous communities, another way in which they are a good fit.

Over two years, the partnership will support Mind over Metal camps in 14 schools. The camps invite students from grades 6 to 8 to try welding.

“To ensure we have students going into post-secondary and apprenticeships we have to engage them at an early age, and by high school it’s often too late,” said Mates. “We need to spark that interest at the elementary school level, and then make sure we have good programs at the high school level to ensure they have a positive experience that will lead them to choosing a career in welding.”