Department News

Ancient timber finds a new home at Okanagan College   

Recycled timber originating from 250-year-old B.C. forests will soon add an authentic note of heritage to Okanagan College thanks to a hefty in-kind donation to the College’s carpentry program through the Okanagan College Foundation. 

 Kim and Doug Cotter, owners of Cotter’s Bin and Demolition Services Ltd. in Penticton, salvaged the Douglas fir timbers from the historic Naramata packinghouse and offered to donate the lumber - worth approximately $22,266 - to the College. 

This spring, carpentry classes will begin using the wood to construct a large-scale heritage project for the Penticton campus. A decorative archway is expected to be complete by summer.

Follow this link to read more about how the lumber came to live at Okanagan College and why Construction Trades chair Alf Leimert thinks the donation will contribute to his students’ appreciation of the beauty of wood.

SECOND PHASE OF ELK ROAD BUILD - 2011 Home for Learning Project

Build ahead of schedule

Thanks to the hard work of the Okanagan College Residential Trades students and their dedicated instructor, Ken Radelet, the second duplex of the Elk Road build is proceeding ahead of schedule. Thanks also to project manager Rick Williamson and our building committee chair Brian Wrightson for helping to keep things running smoothly.

We have invited our regular build volunteers to join us for interior painting but the students will remain working on the building until the third week of July, as part of their curriculum. For more picures of the students at work, visit our Facebook page.

Skills Canada National Competitions - Quebec City June 1-3

Okanagan College’s Construction Trades Department was represented by Jadyn Lowe (4th year carpentery) and Russell Silvius (3rd year Automotive Service Technician).

Both Jadyn and Russell won provincial gold medals, qualifying for the national competition. Jadyn earned a bronze medal at Skills Canada for his work – Russell did not make the podium. Jadyn and Russell were coached by Marvin Rode and Jamie Bloomfield.

For more information on the competition, visit Skills Canada online.

"ENGRAINED” - Exhibit & Sale

   Students from Okanagan College’s Studio Woodworking
   program will have their class projects on display at the Tutt
   Street Gallery in Kelowna on Saturday, May 7 from 10 a.m.–   4 p.m. The exhibit, title ENGRAINED, is free to attend and
   includes refreshments. For more information, contact
   instructor Tim Diebert at 250-762-5445 ext. 4423.
   www.okanagan.bc.ca/studiowoodworking

New Trades Programming Brings Studio Woodworking to Okanagan College

This fall Okanagan College will offer Studio Woodworking, a new 35-week program – the first of its kind in the province. Studio Woodworking encompasses a wide range of woodworking disciplines. While the program is not an apprenticeship, students completing the program will get credit for Cabinetmaking Level 1 from the province’s Industry Training Authority. That can be applied toward a Cabinetmaking Apprenticeship.

“This is a program for people who have a passion for woodwork,” explained instructor Tim Diebert. “It will appeal to serious hobbyists who just want to gain some new skills or turn their passion into a business. It will also appeal to people who want to find a career in the woodworking business and for those already in the business who want to further their skills.”

Anyone interested can go online or attend an information session, being held June 12 at 10 a.m. in the shop that will host the program at the College’s Kelowna Campus.

Vernon Students, partners, cut the ribbon on Home for Learning Project ~ for more details visit the News and Events webpage

WorkSafe BC - Spring 2010

Held their Conference in the Construction Trades Department Shop and the carpentry students helped build some staging for the event. The Conference showcased the importance of safety on the job site. Watch CHBC coverage of the event.

Fourth-year Cabinetmaking students showcase final projects

Sixteen Okanagan College fourth-year Cabinetmaking/Joinery apprentices presented their final projects to staff this week. The class is the first group to complete the program at the fourth-year level. As part of the curriculum, apprentices are tasked with creating their own project, which must be a freestanding piece of furniture. joinery

Students create the concept, engineering, design, layout, drafting and actual construction and finishing. The projects are required, through a set of guidelines, to incorporate some complex technique and materials. They combine solid wood joinery techniques with hand laying domestic and exotic veneers in complicated geometric patterns. Projects included curved panels and structures in every piece. Contact instructor Tim Diebert for more information.