Tyler Johnson
Tyler, what were you up to before coming here?
Before I came to Ready Arc in March, I was in high school and working a part time job. I’m from Moncton, so I was saving up for my time down here in Saint John. I actually just graduated this year in June, when I was already here at Ready Arc. I managed to get all of my Grade 12 credits early and finish in February, just so I could come here for the March class. I only missed one day of class…to attend my high school graduation and get my diploma from École L’Odyssée (a French high school in Moncton). I wanted to get a head start, I’ve had this in my plans for about a year and a half, two years now.
Why welding?
I have cousins, uncles, family friends – all in the industry. Some of them are business owners, some of them work in the Union as Boilermakers. In the future, I’m hoping to join Local 73. Everyone I know in the welding trade seems to love it. They love travelling, they love the work, the money…They seem to love every aspect of it. I took all the welding courses in high school, and I loved it too. Everything from fabrication to stick welding to a touch of TIG, it was the only course that I looked forward to every day – that and Math – I loved every part of it.
What made you choose Ready Arc?
One of my cousins was bragging about this private college in Saint John where his union does their welding tests. He basically said that I really needed to try to get in here. He also told me it’s really challenging, but it’s only six months, you get good tickets and it’s simply so much better than any other program. He even said he wished he had come here himself instead of going somewhere else, and that really piqued my interest. I also knew that Ready Arc has really good ties and relationships with industry and the unions. I wanted to get a head start, so once I saw that it was from March to August, I decided right then that I was going to try to graduate early and put my plan into action.
So, how were your six months with us?
Honestly, I was thinking about this last night while I was talking with one of my roommates. I said this has probably been the best six months of my entire life. I made friendships here that are built to last, and Steve and Jason are awesome. Jason’s really good at math and blueprint, and Steve is amazing with theory, he explains everything really well. He has his own stories to tell about the things that we’re learning and the experience to go with it. There’s not a day in the last six months that I didn’t wake up and want to come here, which was interesting because I found high school was the complete opposite. Every day – it was just amazing.
You made it to graduation day. What’s next?
I’m debating two options right now, two potential plans. Plan #1 would be to work down here in Saint John and finish my apprenticeship as a welder. I’ve got a few companies in mind that I could work with to get my red seal as a welder, then eventually join the Boilermakers so I can end up being dual trade later. I think it’s good to have your Red Seal first, because when you’re not working as a Boilermaker, you have something to fall back on – and Red Seal is what they need.
Plan #2 would be to join the Boilermakers as soon as I can, and then start chasing shutdowns. Then later, once I get my Red Seal as a Boilermaker, become a welder. I think I’m leaning towards option one first, only because I want to get out and work and don’t really want to wait on my next block.
On top of those options, I’ve been looking at mining and a few other companies out West, just waiting on some emails right now. As far as this upcoming week, I’ve got my confined space to do and some appointments that I pushed back because I didn’t want to miss days at Ready Arc – just some housekeeping and my car filled to the brim for the trip home to Moncton while I decide what’s next for me.