The Project Heavy Duty Restart 2023 hosted local high school students on a real job site in Fort St John, where learning was hands on.
16 students (7 females and 9 males) from all over School District 60 participated in this year’s project, which had them working at 1 of 2 sites over the course of a week. Students are given tutorials and supervised by experienced machine operators before going off to do the real work.
The main site was at the new Parkwood Southlands development by Ma Murray School.
Project Heavy Duty began in 2002, as a joint venture between School District 60 and local industry companies. With Richard Koop and Richard Sewell as the initial school district contact, and Donnie Goodbun as the industry liaison. These individuals came up with a program in which local companies donate most of the materials including the heavy equipment, office building, as well as the fuel that runs the machines.
Due to Covid, this annual event was interrupted for two years, hence “restart” in this year’s title.
This is the 19th time this program has made an impact on the future for students in the Peace region. Working to get the project back up and running to its former standard, Jeff Mayer (SD60) and Tyrell Goodbun (industry liaison) coordinated this year’s event.
Stay tuned for the upcoming Project Heavy Duty 20th event next year.
tbuck@ahnfsj.ca
