After a hiatus of four years, Lakeland College is set to revive its steamfitter-pipefitter apprenticeship program, catering to the growing demand for skilled workers in the region. With the stamp of approval from the Government of Alberta, the program is scheduled to kick off this fall.
Dave King, the dean of Lakeland’s School of Trades and Technology, expressed enthusiasm about the relaunch, highlighting the longstanding necessity for steamfitters and pipefitters in the area.
“We suspended the program in May 202 due to certain circumstances, but it was always meant to be a temporary measure,” King explained. “Now, with the conducive economic conditions, we’re thrilled to resume the program, providing aspiring steamfitter-pipefitters with the essential classrooms learning and hands-on training.”
Steamfitter-pipefitters play a critical role in planning, fabricating, and maintaining piping systems utilized in various industrial processes such as heating, cooling, and transportation of fluids. The reinstated program at Lakeland entails a four-year term, encompassing a minimum of 1,560 hours of on-the-job training along with eight weeks of classroom instruction each year.
The reintroduction of the steamfitter-pipefitter apprenticeship program brings Lakeland’s total count of apprenticeship training offerings to seven. These programs, which include automotive service technician, carpenter, electrician, heavy equipment technician, parts technician (online), welder, and now steamfitter-pipefitter, are conducted at Lakeland’s Trades Centre situated on the Vermillion campus.
Prospective students interested in the steamfitter-pipefitter apprenticeship can find more details at Lakeland Colleges trade and apprenticeship website. Registration for classroom instruction for the 2024-25 academic year is set to commence on May 23, marking the beginning of a new chapter for aspiring tradespeople in the region.