Canadian carpenter apprentices measure up at NAC

Toronto was host to the 22nd annual United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America National Apprenticeship Contest (NAC) at Roundhouse Park in downtown Toronto Aug. 22-23.

The contest featured some of the best apprentices and young journeypersons from across Canada vying for title of top dog in their respective trade. Competitors in carpentry, drywall, floor covering and the millwright trade were required to pass comprehensive written tests followed by an intensive all-day project build.

First place in the carpentry category went to Chris Erbus, Local 343, Winnipeg. Other first place winners include James Theriault, Local 675, Toronto, in drywall; Daniel Moxom, Carpenters Local 27, Toronto, in flooring; and Steve Ford, Local 1009, Quebec, in the millwright competition.

This year, the usually male-dominated contest featured a female competitor — a carpenter apprentice from St. John’s, N.L. — Kirstene Reyes. One of the first-ever females to compete in the annual contest, Reyes was up against eight men through the two-day event that wrapped up with a project-build test (a detailed garden arbour with bench seat) in busy Roundhouse Park in downtown Toronto.

While she didn’t win top place, Reyes represents one of the new faces that the building trades hope to recruit: young, bright talented women who see trades as a viable option to traditional career choices, state Carpenters’ union officials.

Reyes says the Carpenters’ union is working hard to promote the trades to young women and that it’s a good place to work.

"They train you to be really knowledgeable about the field and they provide a safe working environment," she said. "It’s been a very rewarding career choice for me. I highly recommend more young women and men think about a career in the trades."

Mike Yorke, president of the Carpenters District Council of Ontario’s (CDCO) Local 27 in Woodbridge, Ont., says it was "great to have the next generation of carpenters showcasing their skills to the people of Toronto and people from around the world at such a public venue."

CDCO Locals 27 and 675 and Local 2309 of the Millwrights Regional Council of Ontario hosted the competition.

The top finishers in the main trades at this year’s contest were:

CARPENTRY

1st: Chris Erbus, Local 343, Winnipeg

2nd: Ian Kula, Local 1598, Victoria, B.C.

3rd: Chad Gerrits, Local 1325, Edmonton

DRYWALL

1st: James Theriault, Local 675, Toronto

2nd: Jamie Duncan, Local 18, Hamilton

3rd: Mike Holloway, Local 579, N.L.

FLOORING

1st: Daniel Moxom, Local 27, Toronto