Seaspan plumber, Thierry Mirandette, is celebrating the achievement of obtaining his Red Seal endorsement. The 39- year-old recently completed his apprenticeship after receiving tutoring through the Construction Foundation of BC’s (CFBC) Coast Capital Road to Red Seal program.
The Coast Capital Road to Red Seal initiative offers support to apprentices across the province by providing the tools necessary to achieve success. These tools identify individual learning styles and gaps and build on participant strengths. Project manager, Michelle Anderlini and learning catalyst, Dave Lovisa worked with Mirandette to identify his individual needs to succeed.
“They are amazing human beings,” remarked Mirandette. “They helped me with strategies for taking the final exam; multiple choice questions, things that come up on interprovincial exams…dividing your workload, instead of studying all at once for three hours a week…”
As an older apprentice, Mirandette’s study habits were developed when attending secondary school several years prior. The challenges of re-engaging himself to that style of learning while in a classroom setting, coupled with the stresses and responsibilities associated with a full-time family and job at the Victoria shipyards, added to the barriers preventing the Quebec-born trades worker from completing his apprenticeship.
Mirandette acknowledges that the support of the Road to Red Seal team was crucial in helping him overcome the challenges of balancing family life and the difficulty of the trades’ final exam.
“If it wasn’t for CFBC, I’m telling you, I was at a point that I was debating whether to stay in the trades and complete my ticket,” admitted Mirandette. “Like, how come it is so hard to pass an exam? I’m a straight shooter. I say what I think, and I said, ‘Maybe it’s not meant to be.’”
Despite his uncertainties, support from Anderlini and Lovisa shifted Mirandette’s outlook on the certification process, allowing him to receive the help and tutoring needed to push himself through the final stages of his plumbing apprenticeship.
“Having CFBC there as a support, honestly, took a big weight off my shoulders,” said Mirandette. “Not having to be alone and that kind of thing. Knowing they were there to help me…I felt more secure and more confident. At the end of the day, I did it myself, but their support was something that was, really, really, beneficiary to my success.”
In addition to balancing family life and age, Mirandette’s background as an ESL learner was carefully considered by the Road to Red Seal team, enabling them to offer tailored support that helped him succeed.
“CFBC takes everything into consideration,” added Mirandette. “They’re really good about making you feel comfortable and they’re cheering for you. They just they want you to succeed.”
Now with ticket in hand, Mirandette is both proud and relieved to have finally ticked off a significant accomplishment in his trades career. “It feels so good, it’s unreal,” concluded Mirandette. “I’m really proud to call myself a journeyman. People saw me through the process of studying every night, having my kids, the extracurriculars. It actually encourages me to finish my other pipe fitting ticket. It feels really good.”
For more information on the work being done by the Construction Foundation of BC and to donate, please visit cfbc.ca.
