Careers at Stratus

The Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is an apprenticeship program for high school students. While attending high school, you complete your regular academic program as well as work part-time at a registered employer to earn on-the-job training hours. This is a wonderful opportunity to get ahead if you are interested in a career in the trades.

Learn more – https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/learn-on-the-job/who-can-learn-a-trade/registered-apprenticeship-program

An apprenticeship is a post-secondary education program that includes both on-the-job training (provided by an employer) and technical training (at an approved trades school/training centre).

Approximately 80% of your training is done “on the job”. Provided by the employer, training is led by a certified journeyperson. Training is measured in hours and months, typically in a “blue book”. Approximately 20% of your training is completed “at school”. Typically a college or post-secondary institution.

To begin an apprenticeship, you must find an employer (just like Stratus!) who is willing and able to hire an apprentice and provide on-the-job training and formally register as an apprentice.

To progress, apprentices are required to: successfully complete the schooling portion as well as pass the industry exam(s); complete the required hours/months of on-the-job training.

An apprenticeship program lasts 1-4 years depending on the trade. A Journeyman Certificate is awarded when an apprentice satisfies all of the requirements of the program.

For more information on apprenticeship programs in Alberta visit here.
For more information on apprenticeship programs in Saskatchewan visit here.

To enter an apprenticeship training contract in a trade:

• You must be a Canadian citizen, or a permanent resident of Canada, or a Convention Refugee or protected person (documented by the Government of Canada), or a refugee claimant in possession of a work permit, or an individual in possession of a Post-Graduation Work Permit, who is eligible to receive credit for all required periods of technical training.
• You must find an employer (just like Stratus!) who is willing and able to hire an apprentice and provide on-the-job training. They will hire you and you will become ‘indentured’.
• Your apprenticeship contract must be registered.

Once you have an employer and become indentured, sign an apprenticeship contract and visit Alberta Trade Secrets to apply for your apprenticeship program.

https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/mytradesecrets/applying-for-ait-programs-and-services-online/

Once you have an employer, sign an apprenticeship contract and visit the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission to apply for your apprenticeship program.

https://saskapprenticeship.ca/applications-forms/#apply-for-apprenticeship

The term of apprenticeship for an electrician is 4 years (four 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training in each of the first three years, and a minimum of 1440 hours of on-the-job training and 12 weeks of technical training in the fourth year.

Find more information on electrical apprenticeship eligibility here.

Apprenticeship Schools/Training Centres in Alberta:
https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/technical-training-centre/training-locations/

Apprenticeship Schools/Training Centres in Saskatchewan:
https://saskapprenticeship.ca/

Stratus hires and indentures Electricians and Instrumentation and Controls Technicians.  

Yes! Apprentices can apply for student loans and grants from both the provincial and federal governments.

Alberta apprenticeship grants information – https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/financial-assistance/funding-for-apprentices/

Saskatchewan apprenticeship grants information – https://saskapprenticeship.ca/support-programs/

In addition to the government grants and loans mentioned above, there are also many awards and scholarships that you may apply for. Below are just a few links you can learn more.

Alberta Scholarships: https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/financial-assistance/scholarships/
Alberta Awards: https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/financial-assistance/awards/

Saskatchewan Scholarships:
https://saskapprenticeship.ca/sya-industry-scholarship-youth/#:~:text=Saskatchewan%20Youth%20Apprenticeship%20(SYA)%20Industry,career%20in%20the%20skilled%20trades. 
Saskatchewan Awards:
https://saskapprenticeship.ca/apprenticeship-awards/

Typically, apprenticeship tuition and materials cost less than $1000 per year (8-week session).

Please note that this is an estimate and apprentices also often pay for transit, parking, student association fees, facility fees, material and consumables during their technical training.

Learn more about Alberta fees – https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/technical-training-centre/paying-for-training/#:~:text=Tuition%20Fees%202020%2F2021&text=For%20most%20apprentices%20in%20an,consumables%20during%20their%20technical%20training.
Learn more about Saskatchewan fees – https://saskapprenticeship.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Tuition-Fees-January-11_2021.pdf

Yes! Apprentices are paid a percentage of a journeyperson’s wage rate. Every year you successfully complete a session of school/technical training, you will receive an increase in wage.

Apprentices earn a percentage of the Journeyperson’s wage rate (set by the employer). If you start off as a laborer you will earn $1 less than a first year apprentice for up to but not exceeding 3 months, at that time your probation period will be over and we can see if you are interested in pursuing a career in in electrical or instrumentation.

In Electrical the rates are as follows:  1st year = 50%, 2nd year = 60%, 3rd year = 70%, 4th year = 80%

In Instrumentation the rates are as follows: 1st year = 60%, 2nd year = 70%, 3rd year = 80%, 4th year = 90%

You will be issued a record book (a.k.a “Blue Book”) that outlines the skills and tasks that you need to learn on-the-job. You will keep track of your work experience and ensure all hours/work are verified and signed-off by you AND your supervisor AND your employer.

The Blue Book is submitted once per year to your Apprenticeship & Industry Training Office to track successful completion of hours and learnings. 

You bet it is! 

Once you complete your apprenticeship program, you will become a Certified Journeyperson. You may decide to take additional exams (Red Seal or Gold Seal) that provide you

The Red Seal is a recognized standard in Canadian jurisdictions, one that employers look for as an indication of the skill and competency level of employees in the trades. It allows you to work anywhere across Canada without further training/testing. It is a voluntary program.

Learn more here – https://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/experiencedworkers/interprovincial-red-seal/

The Canadian Construction Association’s Gold Seal Certification Program is a national certification program for construction Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators and Owners’ Project Managers. It is a voluntary program.

Learn more here – https://www.goldsealcertification.com/overview/

Many of our supervisors and branch management employees started as apprentices with Stratus. We are constantly trying to build the company we’ve always wanted to work for. That means – promoting from within. We want you to grow with us.

We offer a “BAR Award” (BAR = Born and Raised) for apprentices who start with us as a year one and continue their employment with us through their 4^th year.

We have created a “BAR Award” (BAR = Born and Raised). All apprentices who start with Stratus as a year one and continue their employment with us through their 4^th year will receive an award.

Here is a piece of advice from our President & Founder, Dave Smith.
 
“I started my career as an Electrical Apprentice. I became a Master Electrician, progressed through many roles like Service Department Manager, Southern Alberta E&I Manager, General Manager… and now I run Stratus.

To be a successful apprentice, you need to want to learn and be helpful on the jobsite. Have a positive attitude every day. Learn early that when all of your company’s clients succeed… you get more hours. Your team stays busy.  Do your best at school. Show up and do the work. It’s only a few years and having your ticket will set you up for success in life.

To succeed at Stratus, you need to respect and be true to our core values.  We take them very seriously.

There is no Stratus without US – you’re part of a true team here.
Accept the Challenge – we tackle anything big or small, and with a good attitude.
Commit and Execute! Once we say ‘yes’, we get the task done.
Make Customers’ Lives Easy. Go out of your way to be helpful. Be resourceful and always look for solutions.”