The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world to share their passion and give you the right tips to stay on top of what’s happening in the welding industry.

Please note this episode is a replay, bringing you a blast from the past.

Step into the fascinating world of welding with our special guest, Josh Brewster, the Associate Dean at SAIT's Aviation and Technology Department. Josh takes us on a journey from his humble beginnings in Saskatchewan to his influential role in Alberta, sharing how a high school welding class in Okotoks sparked a lifelong passion. Through personal stories of skills competitions and apprenticeships, Josh emphasizes the importance of safety in trades and the role of mentorship in shaping his dynamic career. His insights offer a compelling look at the balance between hands-on experience and academic growth in the welding industry.

Follow Josh:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-brewster-0297547b/

Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:
Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/
Canaweld: https://canaweld.com/
Josef Gases: https://josefgases.com/

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry.  https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member 

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world to share their passion and give you the right tips to stay on top of what’s happening in the welding industry.

Please note this episode is a replay, bringing you a blast from the past.

Unlock the secrets to a fulfilling career in the trades and finance by tuning into our latest episode featuring Connor McWilliams. Learn how he navigated his way through his high school Apprenticeship program to earn his level one for Automotive Service Technician and eventually finding his calling in the welding industry, despite his parents' hopes for a professional hockey career. Connor's journey from welding to finance reveals crucial tips on managing earnings, investing wisely, and achieving financial security. Hear his personal anecdotes and practical advice on financial management, and understand the importance of education and mentorship in securing a stable financial future. Whether you're in the trades or just looking to improve your financial literacy, this episode offers valuable lessons on becoming the best version of yourself.

Follow Connor:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/connor_mcwils
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-mcwilliams-459a12212/

Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:
Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/
Canaweld: https://canaweld.com/
Josef Gases: https://josefgases.com/

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry.  https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member 

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association is thrilled to collaborate with Skills/Compétences Canada on a special podcast series. This year, we are excited to interview the Skills Canada Executive Directors from across Canada. Tune in as we explore their skills journey and commitment to promoting skilled trades in their provinces and territories!

Discover the hidden powerhouse of skills development on Canada's smallest province with Tawna MacLeod, Executive Director of Skills Canada PEI for 16 years, shares the remarkable transformation that has seen provincial competition participation grow from 68 to 320 competitors across 35 different trades and technology areas. Tawna's journey began unexpectedly in 2009 when she stepped in as interim director just months before PEI hosted nationals. What started as a temporary position became a lifelong passion fueled by the incredible young people she's worked with. "It's the kids," she explains, reflecting on what keeps her motivated through the challenges of running a non-profit organization where she wears "14 different hats" daily.

Website: https://skillscanada.pe.ca/

Follow Skills/Compétences Canada:
Website: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved, and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member 

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association is thrilled to collaborate with Skills/Compétences Canada on a special podcast series. This year, we are excited to interview the Skills Canada Executive Directors from across Canada. Tune in as we explore their skills journey and commitment to promoting skilled trades in their provinces and territories!

When Chris Browton, Executive Director of Skills Canada Alberta, first started in 2001, the organization had only a staff of five employees, and has evolved to reaching over 40,000 youth annually and consistently producing world-class trades competitors. Competition drives excellence, and Skills Alberta has built a sophisticated progression system dividing the province into nine regions, each anchored by a post-secondary institution. This structure creates a pipeline where talent rises through regional and provincial competitions before representing Alberta nationally. But beyond competitions, the organization has expanded into widespread programming, including their trademarked "Try a Trade" experiences.

Website: https://skillsalberta.com/

Follow Skills/Compétences Canada:
Website: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved, and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member         

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

L'Association de la CWB est ravie de collaborer avec Skills/Compétences Canada dans le cadre d'une série spéciale de balados. Cette année, nous aurons le plaisir d’interviewer les directeurs généraux de Skills Canada de partout au Canada. Écoutez-nous alors que nous explorons leur parcours en matière de compétences et leur engagement à promouvoir les métiers spécialisés dans leurs provinces et territoires! 

Depuis près de 30 ans, Jean-Rock Gaudreault, directeur de Compétences Canada Québec, est témoin de l'évolution des concours de métiers spécialisés à travers le Canada. Il raconte comment un centre de congrès vide se transforme en une immense usine regroupant 40 métiers différents et des centaines de postes de travail pour quelques jours de compétition intense. Plus que de simples concours, ces événements constituent des moments décisifs pour l'avenir professionnel de jeunes qui, souvent, n'avaient aucune idée qu'ils participeraient à une compétition nationale quelques semaines auparavant. La préparation psychologique est particulièrement fascinante : les concurrents reçoivent une formation similaire à celle des athlètes olympiques, apprenant des techniques de visualisation et des stratégies de gestion du stress essentielles dans des environnements à haute pression. 

Suivez Skills/Compétences Canada : 
Site Web: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

Il n'y a pas de meilleur moment pour être membre ! L'adhésion à l'Association du CWB est nouvelle, améliorée et centrée sur vous. Nous offrons une adhésion GRATUITE avec une gamme complète d'avantages pour développer votre carrière, rester informé et soutenir l'industrie canadienne du soudage. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member     

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association is thrilled to collaborate with Skills/Compétences Canada on a special podcast series. This year, we are excited to interview the Skills Canada Executive Directors from across Canada. Tune in as we explore their skills journey and commitment to promoting skilled trades in their provinces and territories!

What happens when a community desperately needs tradespeople but is only accessible by plane? Katie Mooney, Executive Director from Skills Canada Yukon, shares the unique realities of nurturing trades talent in northern Canada. Beyond the practical aspects of trades development, Katie shares insights into northern living—the exceptional work-life balance, the immediate access to wilderness, and the tight-knit communities that make the territories uniquely appealing despite the harsh winters and infrastructure limitations.

Website: https://www.skillsyukon.com/

Follow Skills/Compétences Canada:
Website: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved, and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member         

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association is thrilled to collaborate with Skills/Compétences Canada on a special podcast series. This year, we are excited to interview the Skills Canada Executive Directors from across Canada. Tune in as we explore their skills journey and commitment to promoting skilled trades in their provinces and territories!

What makes Skills Canada British Columbia unique is its commitment to balancing high-profile competitions with genuine grassroots initiatives. Michelle Skelly, Executive Director, shares how regional competitions serve as gateways for youth in remote communities to discover trades careers they might never have considered. From northern territories requiring winter mountain crossings to island communities dependent on ferry schedules, her team navigates geographical challenges to ensure equal access to opportunities.

Website: https://skillscanada.bc.ca/

Follow Skills/Compétences Canada:
Website: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved, and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member         

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association hosted this year's annual Welding Industry Day Conference in Red Deer, Alberta. Join us as we bring you special episodes recorded on-site to keep our members on top of what’s new and exciting in the steel and welding industry. A special thank you to Cooperheat Equipment for sponsoring this episode! Cooperheat has a dedicated team of professionals and prides itself as the go-to experts for solving thermal technology challenges globally since 1957.

Today's special guest, Bruce Stewart, Competency Manager at Tech Heat, shares his remarkable 30-year journey through the specialized field of heat treatment. From humble beginnings answering a newspaper ad in 1991 to helping develop a nationally recognized trade program, Bruce offers a fascinating glimpse into an industry that has transformed dramatically.

When Bruce first entered the field, heat treatment technicians were considered "below the bottom of the scale" in the trade hierarchy. The entire Western Canadian heat treating industry consisted of just 20-30 technicians using primitive methods like tiger torches and temperature crayons that might be "within 100 degrees" of the target. Fast forward to today, where sophisticated electrical resistance and induction heating systems allow for precision control within specific parameters, and the industry has grown to over 300 specialists. For welders and fabricators looking to understand this critical aspect of quality control, this episode provides invaluable insights into the science and craft behind proper heat treatment.

Check out Cooperheat Equipment:
Website: https://cooperheatequipment.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cooperheat-equipment-ltd/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cooperheatequipment/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cooperheatequipment/

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that connects to welding professionals around the world to share their passion and give you the right tips to stay on top of what’s happening in the welding industry.

Today's guest is Nick Cotto, a Welding Professional whose journey from a struggling student to a respected Quality Control Inspector challenges conventional wisdom about career paths and learning. What makes Nick's story compelling is his transformation from someone who "wasn't good in high school" and "didn't have that attention span" to a professional who now devours code books and technical manuals with enthusiasm. The catalyst? Finding something he genuinely enjoyed and respected. Where classroom learning once felt impossible, Nick found that the practical, hands-on nature of welding education perfectly matched his learning style.

Follow Nick:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-cotto-909280183/?originalSubdomain=ca

Thank you to our Podcast Advertisers:
Canada Welding Supply: https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/
Canaweld: https://canaweld.com/
Josef Gases: https://josefgases.com/

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry.  https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member 

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!

The CWB Association is thrilled to collaborate with Skills/Compétences Canada on a special podcast series. This year, we are excited to interview the Skills Canada Executive Directors from across Canada. Tune in as we explore their skills journey and commitment to promoting skilled trades in their provinces and territories!

Ian Howcroft, Executive Director of Skills Canada Ontario, discusses with us into how this province is transforming the perception and pursuit of skilled trades careers. Ian brings invaluable perspective from his 38-year career journey, transitioning from manufacturing advocacy to leading Skills Canada Ontario for the past seven years. Under his guidance, the organization has expanded to host Canada's largest skills competition, featuring 2,700 competitors across 77 contests and attracting over 40,000 visitors. But what stands out most is their innovative approach to reaching students wherever they are, with mobile trade and tech trucks equipped with welding simulators, 3D printers, and hands-on stations.

Website: https://www.skillsontario.com/

Follow Skills/Compétences Canada:
Website: https://www.skillscompetencescanada.com/en/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SkillsCanadaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillscompetencescanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/skills_canada
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skillscanada

There is no better time to be a member! The CWB Association membership is new, improved, and focused on you. We offer a FREE membership with a full suite of benefits to build your career, stay informed, and support the Canadian welding industry. https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/become-a-member  

What did you think about this episode? Send a text message to the show!