The Trades Rock and the Money Rolls!

For these musicians, the trades were the perfect fit for their lifestyle and their passion for music.  All four band members have attended NAIT as apprentices and drummer Tom Laisi is a full-fledged Steamfitter/Pipefitter at the age of 23.

“I stuck with it because I really liked it and I liked the money,” says Tom.  “Coming out of my first year apprenticeship, I probably made more at age 19 than a recent university graduate. Twenty dollars an hour isn’t too shabby when you are going to school two months of the year. It’s good incentive to get that education.”

Older brother Joe, the guitarist, is a third year Sprinkler Systems Installer apprentice who got his start and training from another uncle who owns a fire protection company. He says all the guys are passionate about their work, but are just as passionate about the band.

“The band is expensive to maintain since we have valuable equipment and some of us still take music lessons. But we are like a family and do everything together. The money we earn helps keep Euphonic playing.”

Dave Roberts, Dean of NAIT’s Mechanical and Manufacturing Technologies, agrees that money attracts people to the trades since most jobs are high paying. He cites a recent five-year study by NAIT, which found that journeymen made more money on average than graduates of certificate programs. But, while trades tend to be high paying, he says there still is the assumption that trades careers are static. 

“Many people think to themselves, ‘I’ll be pulling wrenches for the rest of my life.’ But the trades really are the beginning of a good, solid career path, Dave says. “They are a good, viable career path, which lead to high paying jobs, management positions, and business ownership.”

And that’s music to the ears for the Euphonic four. Using their tradesman skills by day to finance their musical passion, Tom, Joe, Scott and Keith are poised for big things. The band has played a number of local venues, has a website and is set to release their debut CD.

Know someone who would like to work in the trades but needs a way to get started?  NAIT currently has pre-trade training in these areas:

 Automotives
 Welded Metal Fabrications
 Pipe Trades
 Carpentry
 Iron Worker
 Electical

Call 780.378.5000 or e-mail training@nait.ca to find out more, and check Euphonic out at www.euphonic.ca.

Celebrate GIS Day at NAIT
GIS Symposium
November 16, 2005

NAIT's Computer Training Centre, in cooperation with AGG, GeoEdmonton, GITA, and URISA, will be participating in a global effort to raise awareness of GIS and explore its use in solving real-world business problems.

To register for GIS Day at NAIT visit www.nait.ca/guage after October 1, 2005. 

Introducing GUAGE - Gaining An Understating of GIS Edmonton

Take your expertise to the next level. NAIT is collaborating with GIS associations in Alberta to facilitate further education of GIS professionals and others interested in GIS capabilities and technologies beyond traditional applications.  Here are some of the other features GUAGE offers:

• use of NAIT's fully-equipped GIS lab and meeting facilities to the GIS community

• a discussion group for GIS users to share ideas and to solve issues, hosted by NAIT

• a variety of major GIS events in NAIT's conference facility

Visit the GUAGE website for the latest GIS news and ENTER OUR DRAW FOR A FREE GIS COURSE:  www.nait.ca/guage

For more information, please call 780.378.5000

NAIT Computer Training Centre and London Drugs Offer Technology and Training
Spend $500 at any Edmonton area London Drugs and receive $100 toward any NAIT Computer Training Centre course.

See the London Drugs site for details.