South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

  •  

BN10-49: Chetwynd Secondary’s Power Engineering Program Thriving

Recent History – 2002

June 14, 2002

By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff

South Peace Secondary School (SPSS) is not the only home to a partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

Since January, 17 students at Chetwynd Secondary — some adults — have been taking power engineering under the tutelage of Jon Carlson.

Power engineers operate boilers and steam plants at mills, gas plants and large complexes like hospitals. Although not the kind of high profile career that most people think of pursuing, Carlson said that the benefits can be rewarding.

“Above average wages, it’s not seasonal, there’s a shortage in Western Canada for the next 10 years of power engineers,” he said.

The program is open to Grade 11 students who take classes and practicum for 40 weeks starting in February. Once finished, they’ll have earned both Grade 12 and a fourth class certificate.

“And they’re doing it from home so the parents don’t have to send them off to college to take their power engineering program,” Carlson said. “It’s really unique.”

First class is the highest certificate that can be earned in power engineering and fifth class is the lowest.

“With first class you can operate any steam plant anywhere in the world,” Carlson said. “Canadian engineers are recognized anywhere because they’re so highly trained.”

Power engineers must have an ability with mechanical applications and good math skills, with calculus coming into play at the first and second class levels.

Fourth class gives them a good start said Carlson. “And even if they don’t use their certification, they’re hirable because they have related skills through the training,” he said.

This year, all the students are from Chetwynd, but starting next January, students from Dawson Creek will have an opportunity to participate. They’ll be bused to and from on a daily basis, much like students from Chetwynd do when they take either of the automotive programs at SPSS.

Carlson, who taught power engineering for nine years at the Fairview College in Peace River, enjoys his job.

“It’s a winning combination,” he said. “The guinea pig instructor, the guinea pig class and it’s working out just excellent, getting some kids in there that are kids and they’re maturing rapidly.

“A mixture of adult students and the younger students is the ideal combination for our type of program.”

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

« BN10-48: Kiwanis Scholarship Winner Carla Maxwell

BN10-50: Youth Entrepreneurs Win Junior Achievement Award »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.