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Justin Beaucage isn’t one to toot his own horn - but luckily, he doesn’t have to. After completing his first year of apprenticeship at 91��Ƭ��, Justin was awarded the 2023 Top Apprentice award for the trade of Parts Technician, an honour that speaks for itself.

Awarded by Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) to Alberta apprentices who achieve the highest overall marks along with strong employer recommendations, the award came as a happy surprise to Justin, though he modestly wonders if he had an unfair advantage. With years as a mechanic under his belt, Justin brought industry and life experience to the classroom. He acknowledges it’s nice to know that “the old dog can still compete,” he laughs.

Justin saw the benefits of the trades early in life. After high school, he recognized that earning a ticket could offer financial security and allow him to build a stable life with his family. He completed his automotive apprenticeship, becoming a certified journeyman, and worked as a mechanic for 17 years. When the physical demands of fitting his 6’1” frame under a hood became challenging, he pivoted to working in agricultural parts for his current employer, Foster’s Agri-World in Fairview.

Earning parts technician certification isn’t a demand of this new position, but Justin says he’s always jumped at the chance to keep learning. He explains that earning certifications offers tangible proof of his skills and helps build career and financial stability. Justin saw that his automotive experience helped him transition to agricultural parts without starting at the bottom, and gave him a strong base to navigate a somewhat stressful mid-life career change.

“The trades are stackable,” he says, noting that he could earn another credential in warehousing at NWP after completing his parts training. He appreciates the options that education opens up for him, and recommends doing some research to understand where your training could lead in the future. In his experience, “Trades open a lot of doors.”

While Justin has never thought of himself as a lifelong learner, he’s picking up new skills outside of work too. A drummer for three decades, he taught himself guitar about five years ago and just signed up for lessons to hone his chops and learn some theory. “A really nice side effect” of switching to guitar is that it’s allowed Justin to form a band with his wife, noting that “she has a beautiful voice and it’s easier to sing along to guitar than drums.”

Seeing live shows and finding open mic nights were some highlights of Justin’s time at NWP for his first year of training. He relocated from the home he shares with his wife, son, and dog in Bluesky for six weeks in Grande Prairie, and enjoyed the taste of city life, the NWP campus, and connecting with classmates and instructors.

While hardly an “old dog,” Justin is definitely a role model for any NWP students who aspire to pick up new tricks at any stage of their careers. We congratulate Justin for his Top Apprentice award and his commitment to a lifetime of learning.