Terence Jebb is originally from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, in northern Manitoba. He has spent the last 20 years of this life in Calgary, Alberta. Prior to Trade Winds to Success (TWTS), he was a truck driver and he did not like the hours, plus it was seasonal work and he wanted year-round work to support his wife and 4 kids. He always wanted to get into the trades and originally thought carpentry but ended up taking plumbing after learning more about each trade, while attending Trade Winds.

Terence’s TWTS journey started when he saw a poster while he was riding the C-Train in Calgary in 2010. He called the number and started the intake process to his future career. Little did he know at that time how big of an opportunity lay ahead.

He started at TWTS, on March 01, 2010 and he completed his shop training at the PITS union training centre on Oct 9, 2010. Trade Winds helped him learn more about the trade – so he was not so green. They gave it all to him, academics, tools, PPE, safety tickets and hands-on training. In short, he was introduced to the union and got his foot in the door. He formed lifelong friends with his classmates and within the union and is now a proud union member of Local 496, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry for the last 10 years.

His biggest challenge was his confidence in academics. He did not know if you would be capable of doing the academics. Our Calgary instructor/facilitator, Robert gave him the confidence and prepared him well to attack whatever came his way academically and for that he is very grateful.

Terence just accepted a position as Lead Foremen at Modern Niagara, after years of working with them and other companies, as a Journeyman Red Seal Plumber and Gasfitter. He is currently working on his third-year Steam/Pipefitter ticket as well.

Terence is a good example of how it works, and he has told us that he is the first one in Opaskwayak Cree Nation, to receive a JM Red Seal ticket and he was asked if you would come back and teach others…he says maybe when he retires.

We are so proud of Terence’s accomplishments through the years and we like to ask him to speak to our current groups here at TWTS. He speaks of his experiences, gives them motivation, and tells those coming into the trades, how it really is in the field. Our students really enjoy his visits.