April 13, 2026
Brynn Bourke – Executive Director
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL EDITION of TradeTalk Magazine because we have not one major victory to share with you, but two.
In this issue, we celebrate the long-awaited news that funding for trades training will be increased.
The BC NDP government has committed to investing an urgently needed $241 million into this province’s trades training system. This investment will mark the first time in more than 20 years that the trades training system has received a substantial funding increase.
This funding will allow us to transform B.C.’s trades training system by providing building trades union training schools and public training providers with the desperately needed resources to train more apprentices and recalibrate the system.
This new funding also allows us to put skilled trades certification back on track. The Premier has announced that the next trade to receive skilled trades certification designation will be crane operators.
In this issue, you’ll hear from IUOE 115 leadership on the decades-long initiative their union led to require crane certification. This important victory will raise standards across the crane industry and equip workers with the skills needed to operate mobile and tower cranes safely.
The implementation of mandatory certification for crane operators is a vital next step. But several critical trades remain uncertified. We’re committed to expanding the list and will continue to fight for the highest standards in the country.
In this issue, we’ll catch up with our members at Seaspan and explore the opportunities for shipbuilding in B.C. We’re not only fighting for B.C.’s share of federal shipbuilding contracts, but for a real shipbuilding strategy that includes a plan to build ferries in this province again. Now, more than ever, domestic industries and domestic jobs should come first. A generation of British Columbian workers is ready and eager to build vessels at home.
We’ll also share the story of how one member turned a terrifying medical emergency into a mission to save lives by increasing awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and the lifesaving power of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
And finally, we take a moment in this issue to say farewell to one of the Lower Mainland’s most iconic bridges. As we prepare for the decommissioning of the Pattullo, we talk with legendary bridge-builder, Ironworkers Local 97 member, Lucien Lessard. We also connect with members who currently work on the Pattullo’s replacement, the stal̕əw̓asəm Bridge.
I hope you enjoy this spring edition of TradeTalk Magazine.
By Brynn Bourke,
Executive Director