News Archives: Welder-Wire Process Operator Apprenticeship
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
Apprentices in our region have a new opportunity this spring, thanks to the urging of industry. The "Welder - Wire Process Operator" apprenticeship program will be offered for the first time at GPRC Fairview this year, with classes beginning March 4th. No other face-to-face training is offered for this program in Alberta, and employers in our region have emphasized that classroom instruction would be a preferred preparation for Welder-Wire Process Operator apprentices. Alberta Apprenticeship announced early this year that 10 spaces will be opened at GPRC Fairview to offer the first year of the 2-year requirement. "This is a very responsive decision from Apprenticeship and Industry Training," says Chris Laue, GPRC Dean of Trades, Agriculture and Environment. "We are looking forward to this opportunity to help meet the need of industry in our region, and to being the first to offer this new apprenticeship program." Welder - Wire Process Operators work primarily in production and manufacturing plants, joining components and sub-assemblies to make various items using a variety of construction materials. They work in a wide variety of environments, but most often in a production plant setting. "There is a great deal of production work that occurs in the Grande Prairie area - apprentices are key to that production, and they have to go to school," Laue says. Welding in this branch of the welder trade is restricted to Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW), Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) and other semiautomatic wire feed welding processes. "This new training opportunity is yet another example of how industry, government and GPRC, the local training provider, have worked together to obtain better training opportunities for our regional apprentices," says Terry Taylor, Area Supervisor, Apprenticeship & Industry Training. "GPRC is very pleased to have the opportunity to offer this needed classroom instruction," says Susan Bansgrove, Vice President Academics and Research. "We are happy to be able to work closely with industry and with Apprenticeship and Industry Training to contribute to the economic strength and development of our region."