“ I knew I wanted to get into a trade but I wasn ’ t sure which one , so I attended a career fair ,” recalled Huber . “ My older brother is a welder and I had some experience with carpentry , but I found in sheet metal I could make something out of raw materials in about 10 minutes , which was really cool . I was sold .”

To spice things up , career fair organizers got participating sheet metal companies to pick a “ lottery position ” and VETS Sheet Metal came up with the No . 1 choice . They approached Huber .

“ Other companies were interested in me too , which makes you feel good ,” he said .

Jamie Brown , manager of the sheet metal division of the VETS group of companies , a family-owned business launched in 1921 , said the Registered

Apprenticeship Program ( RAP ) is the logical source to recruit new talent .

“ We ’ ve been involved in RAP for a number of years and we have quite a few guys who started that way still with our company ,” said Brown . “ You look for a good attitude and a work ethic in the young guys , and Sam had that . The rest of the business you can teach them .”

Huber was able to start his RAP journey in the summer between his Grade 11 and Grade 12 years and got in seven solid months of work experience with VETS before returning to Edmonton ’ s Ross Sheppard High School to complete his academic graduation requirements .

“ It was a little intimidating going into the shop the first time , but the journeymen and the foremen were great ,” said Huber . “ One big positive for me about sheet metal is that every day is not the same . There are a lot of aspects to the trade and the older guys stressed to me the importance of taking my time and doing things right .”

Brown said sheet metal ’ s diversity is both a challenge and a plus in recruiting a new generation of tradespeople

. “ Everyone can visualize what a plumber or an electrician does , but sheet metal is more of a specialty trade . It ’ s very diverse , it ’ s hard to put it into just one category ,” he said .

Huber has already done a field stint at an industrial installation in the Fort Hills oilsands project , north of Fort McMurray , learning to work in the cold and away from home . This summer , he ’ ll start the first classroom sessions of his apprenticeship journey .

Huber is proud to be part of the VETS Sheet Metal team and was drawn to the company ’ s commitment to community . VETS has been a strong supporter of Valour Place , a home-away-from-home for military members , veterans , RCMP , first responders and their families who are in Edmonton for medical treatment .

He ’ s already showing wisdom beyond his 18 years . “ Invest in your own tools , the older guys don ’ t like you messing with theirs ,” Huber said with a smile . “ And don ’ t expect to be really good right off the bat . Perfection is the goal . Take it slow , follow the order of operation .” •

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