Elton Musselman, a Grade 11 student at CSS, recently completed the Heavy Metal Rocks Program. The Program, now in its third year, is sponsored by School District 73 in partnership with WorkSafeBC, Southern Interior Construction Association, International Union of operating Engineers - Local 115, Acres Enterprises, Extreme Excavating, Ministry of Mines and Minerals, and the Kamloops Indian Band.
The program provides an opportunity for students to explore the variety of careers available as heavy equipment operators in the construction industry.
There were 25 students from SD73 who attended this course in Kamloops. Musselman was the only student from Clearwater. To qualify students needed to have a good attendance record and show a positive attitude. They were also required to write an essay and attend an interview.
The program was spread over a six-month period and included training in WorkSafe, Construction Safety, Occupational First Aid Level 1, and WHMIS. At the end of March, Elton along with the other students, had an opportunity to operate heavy equipment at the gravel pit owned by the Kamloops Indian Band. The Band donated the space for the course; all the heavy equipment was also donated.
Elton hopes to be a heavy duty mechanic. With that in mind, he will be attending TRU in Kamloops in the fall to complete the Heavy Duty Mechanic course while completing Grade 12 at the same time.