Trade Certification is Crucial

Construction progress of Save-On Foods Memorial Center Arena - Victoria. (Photo taken by Evan Klapstein c. 2004)

Question... would you prefer paying for the services of a Licensed Journeyman who underwent years of hands-on training as an apprentice, working side by side with skilled Ticketed Journeymen, as well as years of schooling learning the theory and practical knowledge of being a trained professional in a skilled trade, or that of someone who hasn't done any of those things?

Would you want a doctor or automotive mechanic working on something of yours when they never went through the years of rigorous testing and training such jobs should require? Would you prefer a seasoned Journeyman Electrician of 10+ years wiring your house or an unsupervised 1st-year apprentice? Should you pay the same high price for someone improperly trained vs. one with proper training and knowledge? The answer to these questions should be most obvious, and the same can be said for the Glazing Industry.

Amazingly, people today don't seem too concerned with paying top dollar for service technicians and installers that haven't obtained the proper credentials. After many years of dealing with customers in the public, never once was I ever asked about my training and whether or not I had my red seal certification. Sadly, many people are paying high shop rates for inadequately trained servicemen. Employers are hiring unskilled labor for cheap, providing inadequate training, sending them out into the field unchecked, and charging their customers full price for subpar inferior work. It is not only unfair to the customer but also to the tradesmen, apprentices, and Journeymen/women out there who made the sacrifices in their lives and hard work to reach their achievements. It requires thousands of hours working on job sites under a journeyman and many long nights of study to pass the necessary written tests for one to obtain his/her certification, and it is very unfortunate that being recognized as a trained Professional by many is being counted for little.

As one who personally understands the great value of the critical knowledge learned in an apprenticeship program and how important it is as an apprentice to work under other trade-certified individuals with decades of experience, it pains me to see the unconcerned ignorance of so many regarding trade certification. People everywhere are working in the trades unchecked and unregulated, and it's become somewhat of a chaotic free-for-all. The ramifications of these poorly trained individuals going unchecked are of considerable concern. Over the years, I have seen firsthand the poor workmanship, sloppy finished product, and potentially hazardous installations many unknowing customers receive from unsupervised, inadequately, and improperly trained individuals. Many of those on the inside know what I am talking about; I am not alone, and my concerns are also those of many British Columbians. Thankfully, there is a shift beginning to take place with new legislation and bills being passed in British Columbia that this trade nightmare should hopefully soon be a thing of the past. Our province has been far behind other provinces for decades, but that is all beginning to change. >>> https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022AEST0074-001775. While this slow transition may still take many years to have any real effects in the glazing industry, I, for one, look forward to the day when Ticketed Journeymen Glaziers and their hardworking apprentices are appreciated, and credit is given where it is due, and employers focus more on apprenticeship programs and customers are provided with better services by highly trained individuals.

Glaziers working in the glass industry are perhaps one of the most overlooked skilled tradespeople around, but the importance of a Ticket should not be overlooked in any trade. For the sake of things being done right the first time, it is imperative that contractors and customers seek out properly trained individuals who have at the very least shown the initiative and dedication to complete the proper training. Next time you acquire services from any individual working in a skilled trade, ask about their training or credentials. Ask to see their documentation. Don't pay top dollar for mediocre results and those that can sometimes be more costly down the road.