Career Profiles

Apprenticed Trades

Hands-on skill and expertise used for work and hobbies!

Apprenticed Tradespersons transform raw wood materials into finished products that reflect tradition and demonstrate craftsmanship in carpentry, cabinet-making, and millwork. An apprentice needs to ensure that equipment is working properly and used safely, and that the product meets the design specifications. The salary range is from $21,000 to $50,000 annually depending on skill level and knowledge, experience, and the product quality.

The work environment is almost completely in a production area and may include working with others.  Apprentices do not usually travel unless the work involves custom work at a specific job site.

Training is required in an apprentice’s area of expertise throughout the apprenticeship.  Apprentices often have post-secondary education or other woodworking skills. Apprentices like working with wood and take great pride in their work. They have an aptitude for design and creativity that allows them to conceive and create unique items. The most important essential skills are numeracy skills in measurement and reading skills for interpreting designs and specifications.

Requires: Trades Certificate, No Experience

Benchman/Lead Hand

Joe Perry is a benchman and lead hand at Cabinetmaster Architectural in Charlottetown, PEI. He was initially attracted to cabinet making by seeing the products produced by veteran craftsmen. Joe has a natural curiosity about the ideas behind the products and he is eager to learn more about the craft.

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Custom Sawyer

Dave Long is a custom sawyer at Hunter Lake Lumber, a small family-run business in Upper Golden Grove, New Brunswick. Wood is a primary source of income in New Brunswick and Dave has worked in the industry all his life.

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Licensed Cabinetmaker (red seal)

Nelson Holdich is a licensed cabinetmaker at Dooley’s Millwork Ltd., a small company in St. Catharines, Ontario. He began his career building boats in Maine. He has also worked in St. Martin, an island in the Netherlands Antilles. When he moved to southern Ontario, Nelson began a new career in cabinetmaking. Nelson believes a job in woodworking is secure and that there are always jobs available anywhere you go.

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Log Home Builder

Amos Harding is a log home builder for West Coast Log Homes in Gibsons, BC. He began working at the company after completing high school. “There is a lot of on-the-job training. You can start without any experience.”

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Log Home Builder (Post and Beam)

Will Corse is a post and beam log home builder with West Coast Log Homes in Gibsons, BC. He has an Associate of Arts Certificate in Political Science but was unable to find work related to his degree. His career in log home building started out as a summer job washing logs. “When you first see log house building, it looks like magic. It’s a thing of beauty if not art.”

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Woodworker

Nouri Tchelebi is a woodworker at Straight Line Designs in Vancouver. A graduate of Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Oakville, Ontario, Nouri receive both the Lee Neilson Canada Award and the Understanding Wood Award in the Sheridan Furniture Studio Program. She also attended the University of Western Ontario where she studied art history.

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Woodworker

Marc-Andre Leger is a woodworker at Shorewood Furniture in Greater Lakeburn, New Brunswick. He attended the Woodworking Program at the Campbellton Campus of New Brunswick Community College.

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