Vale offering trades apprenticeships to Cambrian grads

Rapid expansion in the local mining industry is resulting in exceptional opportunities for recent graduates of Cambrian College’s skilled trades co-op diploma apprenticeship programs.

This month, almost two dozen millwrights and heavy-duty equipment technician apprentices will start full-time jobs at Vale’s Sudbury operations. Each one of them has earned a diploma from Cambrian College, and will be able to attain their interprovincial red seal certification while working full-time at Vale. 

The interprovincial red seal certification program provides assurance that people working in designated trades meet rigorous standards of knowledge and competency set by government and industry.

“It’s not unusual for us to hire apprentices, but we haven’t hired this many apprentices all at once in some time,” explained Garwin Pitman, superintendent of learning and development for maintenance at Vale. “Normally, we hire trades people who have already earned their red seal certification, but the expansion of our operations combined with the shortage of workers in the skilled trades means that there just aren’t enough certified people to meet our needs. In the meantime, Vale is ready to invest its resources in these apprentices as they work towards earning their red seal.”

Pitman said that the company also plans to hire three dozen more trades people—mainly electricians, millwrights and heavy duty equipment technicians—this fall. “Our new hires will likely include more apprentices,” he said.

Louise Turcotte, Cambrian College’s associate dean in the school of community and corporate learning, said she is happy to hear that Vale will be hiring so many of Cambrian’s recent co-op diploma graduates.

“Our grads are in demand since they have already demonstrated commitment to their trade through their success in our programs, and employers see that,” said Turcotte. “They finish school armed with on-the-job experience and knowledge of the latest technologies and health and safety practices. The red seal interprovincial certification is the last test for them, and we’re very pleased that Vale is offering full-time employment to our graduates as they work towards clearing that final hurdle.”