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Shop teacher building solid program at St. Tim's

It’s like a scene from a movie, students lining up, fighting over which classes to take. Phys-ed, music and shop classes are usually at the top of the list, but not so in Alberta, and especially not so at Cochrane’s St. Timothy High School. St.
Keith Routhier demonstrates some grinding techniques used by his students at St. Timothy High School.
Keith Routhier demonstrates some grinding techniques used by his students at St. Timothy High School.

It’s like a scene from a movie, students lining up, fighting over which classes to take.

Phys-ed, music and shop classes are usually at the top of the list, but not so in Alberta, and especially not so at Cochrane’s St. Timothy High School.

St. Timothy’s has always offered a certain level of shop class — building small birdhouses and other small-scale works. But when journeyman carpenter Keith Routhier joined the staff at the school, he had bigger plans than just the usual projects.

“The program was here, they did a lot of woodworking and small projects, which is fine,” said Routhier, “but it’s about expanding the scope of the projects and teach the students what the industry standards are.

“My philosophy is, we provide these kids with skills to help them get summer jobs. We aren’t teaching them to build birdhouses, we frame, we do concrete, my Grade 12s build stairs.

“They don’t have to work at McDonald’s, they can go work in construction and build a career.”

The programs offered through the school range from entry-level skills to more advanced projects, and help to set students up for success at the post-secondary level if they so choose. Routhier said that the program has really been catching on with what used to be eight to 10 students signing up for the class every semester, to what will likely be 40-plus students in the fall semester.

“We’ve had so much interest in our programs with a lot of interest from the Grade 9 students,” he said. “These classes will be growing pretty quickly.”

Routhier has seen a spike in interest with the welding course.

“First and foremost is welding. It’s using fire and electricity to melt steel, what’s not fun about that?” Routhier laughed.

Fabrication studies, carpentry, design studies and a number of registered apprenticeship programs have been offered through Routhier and the shop program.

Routhier has even taken on a number of students as apprentices to help build real professional projects, such as large wooden sheds and picnic tables for community groups. The funds from which, Routhier said, go right back into the program and the tools needed to expand.

Community businesses have also stepped up to help the program, with Hunterwood Technolo-gies providing supplies and expertise. While businesses like Home Hardware, Cochrane Welding and Safety and Crystal Glass have all provided the program with donated tools and supplies.

“Hunterwood have invited us to actually come down and see how their shop works, which is amazing,” said Routhier. “I’ve also talked to some construction developers about taking on some students, and I know Erol’s Automotive has also expressed interest in joining with us as well.

“Cochrane is an amazing place, the community has supported us so much and I feel lucky to live here.”

Alberta has long been leading the way in trades and, with schools like the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) offering expansive technical programs, Routhier said the sky is the limit for his students.

“With trades being as predominant as they are in Alberta right now, there’s nowhere for these kids to go but up through a program like this.”

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