New WATT Graduates

Congratulate the new WATT apprentices.
Left to right: Benjamin Brown Pequera, Rachel Evans (230), Gina Burgess, Christian Timmerman, Alex Wolfe (230), Corrie Toews, Deborah Reid, Richard Reid (in front)

The Workplace Alternative Trades Training or “WATT” Program is a collaboration between the Western Joint Electrical Training Society (Western JETS), IBEW Locals 230, 993 and 1003, and the Construction Foundation of British Columbia. In the face of the labour market skills shortage for electricians, Western JETS and the IBEW identified a need for accessible applied electrical skills training that would lead to employment. WATT was developed to fill that need. Electrical contractors also saw the value in WATT and support participants through employment. WATT is designed specifically for individuals who can not easily access Electrical Foundations courses but have a desire to become an electrician. The program is funded in part by The Government of Canada’s Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program and aims to increase accessibility to electrical apprenticeships and reduce barriers for Youth, Women, Indigenous, and Newcomers to better support a skilled, inclusive, certified and productive electrical trades workforce by improving the efficiency and efficacy of pre-apprenticeship training provided.