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Apprenticeship

Attaining the highest level of skills allows members of the Carpenters Union to be the best paid carpenters in the industry and ensures union contractors remain competitive.

Apprenticeship, where a new worker learns the skills of the craft from a journeyperson on the job, and technical training usually six weeks annually is a proven method of obtaining a high level of skills.

Members of Carpenters Local 1598 have distinguished themselves repeatedly in apprenticeship contest competitions over the years.

Of the 40 B.C. Carpentry Apprenticeship Contests, Local 1598 Victoria has placed first 14 times.

Local 1598 contestants have also placed first at national competitions and twice at UBC International Apprenticeship Contests which were discontinued in 1995.

1963	1st Place	Archie Campbell	Victoria, Local 1598
	2nd Place	John Veerkamp	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Dick Reynolds	Victoria, Local 1598
1965	1st Place	Bill Price	Victoria, Local 1598
1966	2nd Place	Wayne Mowat	Victoria, Local 1598
1967	3rd Place	Victor Popadynec	Victoria, Local 1598
1968	1st Place	Tom Brayton	Victoria, Local 1598
	2nd Place	David Fell	Victoria, Local 1598
1969	3rd Place	Ed Hemsworth	Victoria, Local 1598
1970	1st Place	Peter Cottier also 5th Place International Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1971	1st Place	Chris Cottier also 1st Place International Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1973	3rd Place	John Wheaton	Victoria, Local 1598
1974	1st Place	Gordon Kissinger	Victoria, Local 1598
1975	2nd Place	Craig Duncan	Victoria, Local 1598
1976	3rd Place	Robert Duclos	Victoria, Local 1598
1977	2nd Place	Hans deGoede	Victoria, Local 1598
1978	1st Place	David Autio also 2nd Place International Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Jonathan Raitt	Victoria, Local 1598
1979	3rd Place	Barton Walton	Victoria, Local 1598
1980	1st Place	George Zeeman also 1st Place International Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1981	3rd Place	John Webb	Victoria, Local 1598
1985	2nd Place	Joe Duncan also 2nd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1986	2nd Place	Dan Cote also 3rd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1987	2nd Place	Darrel Orr	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Dan Lissowski	Victoria, Local 1598
1990	1st Place	Michael Finster also 5th Place International Contest and 2nd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1991	3rd Place	Mark Swanwick	Victoria, Local 1598
1992	2nd Place	Geoff Matthias also 2nd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1993	3rd Place	Dave Killion	Victoria, Local 1598
1994	1st Place	Brad Jones also 2nd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Greg Simpson	Victoria, Local 1598
1997	3rd Place	Jay Hooper	Victoria, Local 1598
1998	1st Place	Steven Thomas also 1st Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
1999	1st Place	Chris Martin also 3rd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
2000	2nd Place	Daniel McNary	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Alex Balzer	Victoria, Local 1598
2001	1st Place	Mark Furlotte also 3rd Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Heath Avery	Victoria, Local 1598
2002	1st Place	Neil Cottier also 1st Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
	3rd Place	Matt Cottier	Victoria, Local 1598
2003	--------------- No Contests Held ---------------
2004	--------------- No Contests Held ---------------
2005	1st Place	Paul St. Jacques also 1st Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598
2006	1st Place	Reece Tibbit	Victoria, Local 1598
2007	1st Place	Andrew Brown also 1st Place National Contest Winner	Victoria, Local 1598

Local 1598 is proud of all contestants that competed and those that placed first, second and third in upholding our tradition of excellence in training.

New members who did not enjoy the opportunity to obtain their skills through formal apprenticeship can take advantage of upgrading courses offered by the union. Courses may range from specialty courses to courses that prepare members to receive Inter-provincial certification. Course fees may range from free to 50% of the cost of the course.  Members who hold Occupational First Aid tickets receive 75 cents per hour in addition to their hourly wage rate and are usually more employable.

Local 1598 encourages members and new members alike to take advantage of upgrading courses to increase their skills.

(See Training)

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