Yang Lui and Frank Adjei

Making a name for themselves in the trades

It is said that trust is the cornerstone of any relationship.

But don’t assume that only stands for personal and social commitments. Gaining the trust of future employers is as big a deal as making sure one doesn’t overspend on a joint checking account. NorQuest College Apprenticeship Prep  students Yang Lui and Frank Adjei were among a group of recent graduates who learned that lesson first hand thanks to the intensive and inclusive training they received.

“NorQuest College has built a relationship between the government, the employer, and the Alberta Pipe Trades College, and now the pipe trades college knows us,” says Lui. “And because a lot of the companies are union, they have a good relationship with the pipe trades college. So through this relationship we can get an opportunity. They trust us.”

Once enrolled in the program, students who come from all backgrounds, genders, and origins receive workforce relevant training for entry into one of 50 designated trades. The focus, however, is on welding, steam fitting, pipefitting, plumbing, and related trades.  

The relationship with the Alberta Pipe Trades College revolves around a 10-week training session that follows academic classes held at NorQuest. Those classes include instruction in math, science, computers, employability, and practical trade skills, all of which prepare them to write the apprenticeship entrance exam.

Like Lui, Adjei is also a new Canadian and says his training, both in the classroom and at the pipe trades college, was immensely beneficial to his future goals.

“When I came to Canada I didn’t know anything about these kinds of tools,” he says. “And my English was bad, my math was bad; NorQuest College helped me a lot.”

Both men are looking forward to careers as pipefitters.