Saskatoon high school program tackling trade labour shortage

A unique high school program is teaching students valuable lifelong skills while helping tackle an existing labour shortage.

Students at E.D. Feehan’s Construction Program are wrapping up the school year by putting the finishing touches on a house they spent all year building.

“Every year we start with nothing in the compound here,” Construction Program teacher Dave Schrader said. “We build a full house from start to finish.”

Hiring as few trades as possible, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools students across the division came to E.D. Feehan and began framing what eventually turned into a 1,450-square-foot house that will be shipped to Candle Lake, where a buyer plans to use the new build as a cabin.

From framing, to roofing to mudding and taping, students earned credits, worked towards apprenticeship hours and made lasting friendships while building the house.

“I’m very sad that it’s over,” student Peyton Dale said. “It was a great opportunity. I’ve learned so many great things (and) made so many friends. I had a great teacher. It was amazing.”

For Schrader, the program goes far beyond teaching valuable skills and teamwork to his students. It’s about the opportunity ahead. Students get to tour the Saskatchewan Polytechnic campus and its various trades programs if they want to explore them further.

“We just went through a few generations where they said, if you don’t go to university, you might not add up to much in life — and I think it’s the complete opposite of that. You can make a very good living, and I like to show my kids all of those options that we have in Saskatchewan moving forward,” he said.

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Schrader’s efforts come at a time when Canada is experiencing plenty of stress within the trade labour market. With thousands of skilled trades workers retiring in the next few years and far fewer people to replace them, there’s an added need for journeyperson trades.

Adding to the crunch on labour is Canada’s rapid population growth in recent years, creating a housing shortage. The federal government estimates more than 256,000 new Red Seal journeypersons are needed over the next decade to meet demand in Canada.

“I worked in the trades for eight years prior to starting university, and we’re losing trades workers in Saskatchewan very quickly,” Schrader said.

Schrader wants his students to see these trades as the valuable careers they can be, and that message is hitting the nail on the head for student Hayden Dunser.

“I want to do it because I think it’s a thing that’s never going to die,” Dunser said. “There’s always people looking for trades all around. You can do anything and there’ll always be something for you to do.”

Schrader has kept in touch with former students of the construction program who have gone on to become framers, brick layers, electricians and landscapers.

After teaching students how a house is built, the construction program at E.D. Feehan has its fingerprints on Saskatoon and is helping draw people into trades while helping shape Saskatoon.