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Armed forces credentials can be used as a pathway to Red Seal certification


The province announced new regulation that allows military tradespeople to challenge Red Seal exam free of charge W


hen Paul Robins joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1988 as an airframe technician, little did


he know how much the decision would change his life. “I was not an academic,” he explains. “I didn’t know what I was going to do after I finished high school because col- lege and university did not appeal to me.” Tat was when Robins decided to enter


the military. During a recruitment session, Robins saw video presentations about all the trades training opportunities available to members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Te work done on airplanes really sparked his interest. “I loved airplanes and I’d always had an


interest in fixing things. I decided I had finally found my calling,” he says. Robins spent the next 13 years in Cold Lake, Al- berta, where he worked primarily in the CF18 shop on flight controls, hydraulic fuel systems and landing gear. After more than a decade working in the


same place, Robins felt he needed a change. He evaluated his skills and knowledge, then decided to switch gears and become a Re- frigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic for the armed forces. In 2001, Robins began training at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Gagetown, New Brunswick. “Tat was a huge learning curve for me,”


he recalls, adding that the school offered a 10-month course that combined levels one and two of the technical training program required for his new trade of choice. Following completion of the training,


A Red Seal certified Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic, Paul Robins acquired much of his training while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.


Robins was posted in Winnipeg. He de- scribes his experience working on the base in Winnipeg as “influential.” Te wide va- riety of equipment he encountered ranged anywhere from 1950s vintage to the latest models. “Tis enabled me to see how equip- ment has evolved over time,” he says. Red Seal certificate


After working on the base in Winnipeg


for seven years, Robins acquired his mili- tary credentials, allowing him to work in his trade anywhere in Canada. He felt, however, that this was not enough. “I didn’t feel that I had completed my journey without receiving a Red Seal certificate,” he says. Soon afterwards, he saw an advertise-


ment from an employer looking to re- cruit Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic apprentices. Tis was Robins’ chance to reach his goal of completing the Red Seal exam to become a certified journeyperson. “I was a little intimidated to be back at


school in my forties,” he notes, “but I’m so glad I put my age aside to complete the course.” In December 2010, Robins received what he describes as “one of the best-ever Christmas presents.” He had passed his Red Seal exam. New regulation


On Nov. 7, 2014, the Manitoba govern-


ment announced a new regulation that re- moves barriers for military tradespeople to transfer their armed forces experience into well-paying civilian jobs. This pathway will provide the opportunity for veterans who have military credentials in a skilled trade to challenge the Red Seal exam free of charge. Robins describes this news as monu-


mental. “People in the armed forces do not give themselves enough credit for what they’ve learned during their service,” he says. “Tis new measure will boost their confidence because it recognizes the value of the skills they’ve acquired and the work they do. I hope that this will prompt other veterans to take the same step I took and write their exam.” To learn more about the new regulation


and how to apply, visit the Apprenticeship Manitoba website at www.manitoba.ca/ tradecareers. -Apprenticeship Manitoba


Manitobans have great stories to tell – but who is


publishing them and helping promote their work? Self-publishing is a common though under-supported medium to share our local stories with the world By Dorothy Dobbie


easy and there is very little money in it for the vast majority. Even if you do find a publisher, the creative partner is the least paid, under many agreements assuming all the risk, liability, and costs – and realizing, if lucky, perhaps a 10 per cent royalty on sales. The author is also responsible in most


M


cases for the cost of any unsold books. So many authors self-publish, something


that is easier and easier to do in the world of the Internet where digital books are more and more popular. Others take the paper route, going to a printer and paying for the production of their manuscript. Drawbacks of self-publishing


Te challenges here are several. Firstly,


most self-published books could use a good editor to smooth out awkwardness, avoid cumbersome devices in telling their stories, and ensure that it all holds together. Next, proofreading should be farmed out to some- one with a sharp eye, and excellent spelling and grammatical skills. Finally, graphics advice for clear typogra-


phy and help in choosing the right images for the cover is important to encourage sales. But the biggest challenge of all is distribu-


tion – how to get those books on the shelves and into the hands of eager readers. It takes energy and determination, knocking on doors and asking for sales. Here in Winni- peg, we have been very lucky over the past number of years to have McNally Robinson,


8 Smart Biz


any people have stories to tell that reflect our times and our culture. But getting them published is not


which has generously supported local au- thors, self-published or not – but this is not the case in many other jurisdictions. Nor is the rest of the world standing by


applauding your efforts. The traditional media have habitually refused to review self-published books. Self-published books rarely get a mention by established book reviewers in daily newspapers such as Te Globe and Mail or the Winnipeg Free Press. I am told that reviewing self-published books is against their policy. Nor are self-published books eligible for


literary awards such as the Giller Prize or others, although apparently this is now under review by some prize givers. Local printers


Here in Manitoba, our most widely used


book printer is Friesen Press out of Stein- bach. Tey have expanded their services to become a full-fledged self-publisher, provid- ing help and guidance for self-publishers, including a self-publishing guide. Tey offer many options for assistance in dealing with the challenges of editing, design, printing, marketing, distribution, and even digital sales on Amazon, etc. But every one of those services requires


payment and you may again end up with 10 per cent or less of the proceeds from the sale of your book. Te Friesen arrangement does allow you to keep exclusive copyright to your work and you can opt out of the agreement under certain circumstances. For my part, I have grown to love the


efforts of our local writers. Te stories are often compelling and memorable. Tey are certainly not formulaic, which is what seems to happen to even the best authors under the


to Canada with her family in steerage by bigamist Percy Criddle, who brought his second wife and her family at the same time in second class. He treated his first family as servants while they all lived together in the same household. It’s a fascinating account of an extraordinary pioneer family living near Wawanesa, Manitoba. Wayne Weedon has written a fictionalized


account of his mother’s life in Free to Tink. Rescued from a residential school by the local pastor, she grows up as a privileged child in England but comes back to help her people living on reserves many years later. Te book reveals Wayne’s studies of his-


tory, physics, quantum physics, and meta- physics, making us think. But the story is there. The heroine is unconventional, a compelling character, and there is an air of mystery surrounding the book. Wayne is a very good – homegrown and self-published – writer.


Books for babies For Elise, by local writer Oriole Veldhuis.


tutelage of a major publishing house. I will- ingly review these books because I believe the stories need to be told and I like to sup- port local authors. I am a voracious reader having read, with-


out exaggeration, many thousands of books over the years. I am willing to overlook a lot for a fresh perspective, an original idea, an honest approach and a good story. Tat is just what many self-published books bring to the table. This season, why not try Oriole Vane


Veldhuis’ book, For Elise? It is about her grandmother, Elise Vane, who was brought


www.smartbizwpg.com Winnipeg author, David Goldenstein,


has penned a beautiful series of children’s books called Te Guardian Angel’s Club. Te collection was written to help children face some of life’s difficulties with the helping hands, or wings, of a guardian angel. Te first book, Why are you Crying?, helps children deal with the loss of a loved one. Te Case of the Missing Halo continues on from the first book, where a local bully finds the guardian angel’s halo and has to decide whether to use its powers for good or bad. You’ll love these touching stories filled with beautiful illus- trations by Kent Gower. Both books include a free bookmark and can be ordered at www. theguardianangelsclub.com.


January 2015


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