Wednesday, November 5, 2025

A Tale of Two Journeys

Society needs to better recognize the intelligence, creativity, and value of work in the skilled trades

By Dennis Perrin, Alberta and Saskatchewan Director

Many years ago, in a land far away from where I live now, my younger brother and I attended the same school. School did not come easily or naturally to him. He had to work extra hard to understand the concepts and complete assignments and tests successfully.

His older brother got off a bit more easily. While school wasn’t necessarily easy for him, it came more naturally, and he tended to enjoy it more. Assignments and tests required a little less effort.

During those formative years, the teachers identified that the older brother was on the university track. The same teachers would later suggest that the younger brother should look at a career college and possibly pursue a trade. What the younger brother actually heard was that he was not smart and should lower his expectations for success in life.

The younger brother eventually graduated from high school and went to trade school. He enrolled in the Auto Body Technician program, where he learned to masterfully restore vehicles of all shapes, sizes, and purposes to their original, pre-accident condition.

My brother and I now live on opposite ends of the country. During a visit many years ago, I asked him if he had his journeyperson ticket in mind. I knew he had been apprenticing for some time but didn’t know his current level.

Without saying a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and took out his Red Seal certificate—the important credential that establishes him as a journeyperson in any jurisdiction in Canada.

I had never been so proud of anything or anyone in my life. I’m still incredibly proud of him. He has enjoyed nearly a 20-year career with the same employer and has achieved significant success.

Not only is he an expert in the auto body trade, but those same skills are used in other parts of his life. He recently constructed his own shop and installed a hydraulic lift himself. He does all his own vehicle maintenance and repairs and can fix pretty much anything.

He’s also used his metal fabrication skills to design beautiful artwork, many pieces of which adorn the walls of his home.

When I engage with industry and the education system, I am often disheartened to see that the needle has not moved enough on this issue. Many educators and guidance counsellors still push most students toward the university system, often overlooking the many opportunities in the skilled trades.

The reality is that every province in Canada—and most other jurisdictions around the world—has massive shortages in the skilled trades. Attraction and retention are lagging far behind, putting unsustainable pressure on every part of our infrastructure—homes, schools, hospitals, transportation, and the energy facilities that keep our homes warm and the lights on.

Parity of esteem is a concept that seeks to elevate a trades certificate to the same level of societal importance as a university degree. Many organizations are championing initiatives to move this forward, but progress remains too slow. Achieving real parity will require an all-hands-on-deck approach from industry, labour, government, and education.

The skilled trades are full of highly intelligent people, just like my brother. It’s time society truly recognized this and invested the necessary resources and energy to make it a reality.

A Tale of Two Journeys

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