Released on June 22, 2018
Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship (SYA) Industry Scholarships have been awarded to 100 graduating high school students in 72 communities across the province this year. The $1,000 scholarships are awarded to students who’ve completed the SYA Program, a program overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) that exposes students to opportunities in the skilled trades.“On behalf of the Government of Saskatchewan, congratulations to the SYA Industry Scholarship winners,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “I wish all of you success in your future endeavours. Thank you, also, to the industry sponsors who have invested in our province’s young people through this scholarship program. You are encouraging youth to consider rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”
Since the scholarship’s inception, 55 industry sponsors have provided $725,000 to the SYA Industry Scholarship fund. The Government of Saskatchewan has also provided funding through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunities Scholarship, which brings total contributions to more than $1.25 million.
One of the scholarship recipients, Brenna Pelletier, plans to work as a carpenter. She is graduating from Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School in Regina and completed the SYA Program through the Trades and Skills Construction Apprenticeship Program at the Regina Trades and Skills Centre.
“I am honoured and privileged to be receiving a Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarship,” Pelletier said. “I am excited and looking forward to working in the trades and continuing to learn about something I love. The scholarship will help me continue my pursuit of carpentry in construction and will be very beneficial in my upcoming year of working in the trades. Thank you to all those who have contributed to this scholarship and I look forward to what is in store for my future in the trades.”
Teachers and guidance counsellors from participating schools nominate at least one SYA graduate to receive an SYA Industry Scholarship every year. Nominations are also collected from the Regina District Industry Education Council, the Saskatoon Industry Education Council and the Regina Trades and Skills Centre.
In order to redeem the scholarship, students must pursue a career in the skilled trades – either by registering as an apprentice and successfully completing Level 1 technical training or by completing a pre-employment course within two years of graduation.
“The SYA Industry Scholarship rewards graduates who are committed to establishing careers in the skilled trades,” SATCC Board Chair Drew Tiefenbach said. “They must pursue education or an apprenticeship in the trades in order to redeem their scholarship for $1,000. That’s what makes this scholarship program so unique.”
The SYA Program raises students’ awareness of the skilled trades and helps prepare them for a future skilled trades career. Among other activities, participants must complete the Young Worker Readiness Certificate, interview a journeyperson, attend a career fair, and spend at least one day job shadowing a tradesperson or participating in a trades-related work placement.
According to the SATCC’s 2017 Employer Satisfaction Survey, administered by Insightrix, virtually all employers who responded to the survey – and are aware that some of their apprentices or journeypersons are SYA graduates – feel these employees perform as well or better than other employees: nearly 70 per cent say they perform at the same skill level, while more than 30 per cent (three in 10) say they perform better.
The results of the SATCC’s 2017 Apprentice Satisfaction Survey, also administered by Insightrix, show a high level of apprentice satisfaction with the SYA Program. More than 90 per cent of apprentices who completed SYA and responded to the survey agree the SYA activities were useful in preparing them to become apprentices. Students who complete SYA receive significant benefits.
If SYA completers register as an apprentice within five years of graduation, their apprenticeship registration fee is waived, their Level 1 technical training tuition is waived and they receive 300 trade time hours. Since the SYA Program was introduced, more than 7,000 students have completed the program. Of those who’ve completed, nearly 1,300 have registered as apprentices and almost 450 have achieved their journeyperson certification. Currently, there are more than 2,500 students and more than 300 schools enrolled in the program. In 2017-18, nearly 500 students completed.
To learn more about the SYA Program, please visit www.saskapprenticeship.ca/youth_apprentices or call 1-877-363-0536.
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For more information, contact:
Chelsea Coupal
Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0187
Email: chelsea.coupal@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-537-4692