糖心vlog传媒Plumbing apprentice Cassandra Kuryliak works in the plumbing shop at NIC鈥檚 Comox Valley campus.
糖心vlog传媒plumbing apprentice Cassandra Kuryliak found her calling in the plumbing trade. She is encouraging more women to take up the trade, just in time for Apprenticeship Recognition Week, Nov. 4 to 10 in BC.
鈥淢y family all work in the trades, so it was always something I considered as a career,鈥� said Kuryliak. 鈥淚 started as a motorcycle mechanic and then did maintenance work in Alberta which is where I discovered I really enjoyed plumbing. I was offered a plumbing apprenticeship and jumped at the chance.鈥�
After completing her first year in Alberta, Kuryliak came to Vancouver Island for her second and third years.
鈥淚 heard 糖心vlog传媒has a great program,鈥� said Kuryliak. 鈥淭he student-to-instructor ratio is low, so you get a lot of hands-on time and time to ask questions and really delve into the materials. I would definitely recommend coming here.鈥�
Kuryliak enjoys the challenge of plumbing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of math and troubleshooting,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have to figure out why things aren鈥檛 working right or how to make them better. It鈥檚 really satisfying to face a challenging problem and find a solution.鈥�
While many people think plumbing is just sinks and toilets, she enjoys, 鈥渢he industrial side, doing pipefitting and working with larger valves. I also like working with gas lines. There鈥檚 so much to the trade and so many different things you can do with it.鈥�
Her goal is to get her Interprovincial Red Seal, take some time to travel and maybe work internationally. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why the Red Seal is so important to me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檇 love to have the option of being able to work while I鈥檓 travelling and exploring the world before I settle down again.鈥�
Kuryliak hopes other women will look at the trade as a career, especially young women still in high school.
鈥淚f you like working with your hands, take the opportunity to explore, not just plumbing but any trade you鈥檙e interested in,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f you can get into a pre-apprenticeship program, you鈥檒l be supported through the process and you鈥檒l get the chance to learn what you like. It鈥檚 a great opportunity.
While the field is male-dominated, she encourages women to try it. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much support for women in trades,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e joining a community that wants to help you succeed.鈥�
Applications are being accepted into NIC鈥檚 Plumbing & Piping Foundation program, which begins in January at the Comox Valley campus. For more information on all NIC鈥檚 trades programs, visit .
Media Contact C: 250-207-6946 media@nic.bc.caThe Government of British Columbia celebrates Apprenticeship Recognition Week Nov 4 -10. .