By Cheryl Jahn

First-ever Discovery Trades at CNC

May 13, 2025 | 2:38 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Cal Duncan is a College of New Caledonia alumnus. Now he builds houses – amongst other things – in Takla. And he needs people. It’s why he took part in the first-ever “Discovery Trades event.”

“There are going to be 260,000 people retiring in the next ten years,” says Duncan, “Probably myself included. I’m happy to say that construction has been an incredible industry for me. I’ll be 45 years in construction as of August.”

Discovery Trades targets high school students, set in the college’s premiere trades facility. The college picks the students who have expressed an interest in the trades. It’s all about curiosity.

“So we’re trying to get them off the ground,” says Duncan. “Back when I started, it was all about post-secondary education and stuff like that, where I was the old school guy. I knew I was going to work with my hands. So I got into the trades right away. I actually wanted to become a carpenter, followed in my uncle’s footsteps, and then I ended up following my dad’s footsteps in the plumbing and piping industry. So it’s incredible that we get to work with the younger generation, trying to promote them as well.”

But most people think “trades” are those who swing a hammer, do wiring or do plumbing. Not by a long shot.

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“We hope to introduce students to not just the hands-on trades like plumbing, electrical, and general construction. We’re also looking at introducing them to project management, safety, engineering, architecture, all the different areas that support construction,” explains Nicole Bryant, CEO of the Northern Regional Construction Association.

She says as more and more skilled tradespeople are leaving the field, the deficit becomes broader and broader.

“I think some of the trades that are not front and centre – masonry, floor-laying. A lot of those other smaller trades, like roofing. There are quite a few trades that are subsidiary to some of the main trades: mechanical, electrical, and general.”

Cal says the trades have had a bad rap for years. But those attitudes are changing.

“It’s nice to get the recognition that tradespeople are finally getting, and it’s been an incredible journey for me.”

He says there is a certain satisfaction is seeing something you’ve created with your own hands for years and years.