Success stories: Kelsey
Watch Kelsey's video
Success stories: Kelsey - Transcript
Kelsey Lang, Journeyperson, Tool and Die.
I was always interested in working on machines, and I discovered (while) doing a tour of a school that I would get that opportunity if I picked Tool & Die.
There's a huge advantage in the skilled trades. I was able to work while I was going to school. I gained three years of work experience while still learning.
The government grants I was given after passing each year allowed me to focus on my training and not worry about student loans.
I think skilled trades need to be promoted as a great career option at the youngest age possible. You need to show people that they can go into the skilled trades--there's nothing holding them back.
Kelsey’s story: Tool and Die Maker
Kelsey is inspired by the tradespeople she works with, seeing those who also started out as apprentices being promoted to higher positions and high profile projects. Her goal-oriented personality motivated her to choose a technical college over a traditional post-secondary education, and has led to a career that is successful and rewarding. “Working in the skilled trades has given me so many opportunities I did not expect, like being able to compete in skilled trade competitions and receiving government grants.”
One big advantage Kelsey has had during her apprenticeship training is financial support from the Government of Canada: “Being able to work fulltime while going to school gave me a big advantage: School didn’t interrupt my ability to gain valuable work experience.”
The Canada Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a grant of $1,000 offered by the Government of Canada to registered apprentices who have completed their first and/or second year or level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in a designated Red Seal trade. Through this grant, apprentices can receive up to $2,000.
In September 2014 Kelsey was awarded the 500,000th Apprenticeship Completion Grant worth an additional $2,000 available to registered apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship training and obtained their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade.
At the award ceremony, Kelsey spoke about how Apprenticeship Grants have benefitted her career, mainly that she could focus on her training and not worry about costs or stress about student loans. This focus and commitment to training also helped her place Top 5 in Canada in Precision Machining this year at the National Skills Canada competition.
For more information on Apprentice Incentive and Completion Grants, as well as the new Canada Apprentice Loan, visit Canada.ca/Apprentice.
Learn more about support for apprentices
Find more videos on the ESDC YouTube about apprenticeship training and skills support from the Government of Canada.
Visit Support for apprentices for information on more programs available to help apprentices complete their training and for employers to hire and train apprentices.
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