Welders from nearby Hutterite colonies aced their trades qualification tests in record numbers recently, thanks to training provided by RRC’s Corporate Solutions.

The welders were part of a group of 10 seeking formal industry accreditation as a means of increasing the manufacturing opportunities on their colonies. Though some have already worked as welders for decades, they still needed to go through the proper processes — including initial assessments and providing proof of prior experience — before completing their qualifications testing with Apprenticeship Manitoba, the Canadian Welding Bureau and the Manitoba Department of Labour.

To help them succeed, Corporate Solutions staff used gaps identified by the initial assessments to compile a comprehensive trades qualification program — one that blended online math and sciences courses with hands-on training time in RRC’s welding shops. The process clearly paid off, as all 10 candidates successfully completed the necessary components in order to become certified Red Seal Interprovincial Industrial Welders.

“Ten out of ten passed (the theoretical component), and then ten out of ten passed the practical component,” says Corporate Solutions Manager Darlene Bouvier. “We had a 100% pass rate, which — according to the Welding Bureau — they haven’t seen in about 30 years.”

The welders in question attribute their success to the expertise and patience of their instructor, Zenon Kinasevych, illustrating the benefits of industry-focused instruction, says Bouvier. The formal accreditation will open up new doors for the welders, allowing them to broaden the scope of their work while maintaining the self-sufficiency of their colonies.

An arm of RRC’s School of Continuing and Distance Education, the Corporate Solutions department provides customized solutions to industries, organizations and communities throughout Manitoba and the world, by tapping into the College’s ever-expanding network of real-world experts.

“When we’re dealing with organizations or industries, we’re dealing with their specific needs — doing gap assessments and making sure the training is relevant and works for their life schedule,” says Bouvier.

Click here for more information about Corporate Solutions at Red River College.