“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it” –  William Arthur Ward, inspirational author

Field trips and guest speakers have always made students young and old excited about a class. That’s no different in college. We have had many people from industry partner with the Civil Engineering Technology department in varied ways. We have had many past graduates speak to our first year students to help guide them through the maze of programs to choose from. We have had industry experts come to classes and lunch ‘n learns to share new ideas or to confirm the lessons in the classroom about construction, environment, and management. And we have had others provide jobsite tours to classes. All of these have had significant impacts on the students. The students return to class with renewed energy as to why they are in their program and they have a better idea of whether they should be in the office or the jobsite.

Here are some of the comments made by the students.

“I have quite a bit of background in construction but it was a very informative tour and I learned a lot. I think it is a great course in the A/E program to allow students to visit various job sites and learn what is going on. Our tour guide was very helpful and was good at answering our questions. I look forward to visiting many other job sites.”

“This is my first site visit in the construction field. I have five years’ experience doing drafting job. But I never get any chance to go to job site. This job site visit make me little confident regarding the construction. Now I can relate theoretical drafting and practical construction.”

“I don’t have any construction background prior to coming to Red River so getting to see a project start and finish is quiet interesting to me.”

“I enjoyed this site visit simply because it was my first time being in a real construction job site. It was interesting to see how interior wall assembly’s support systems are made. It was also interesting to hear what the site supervisor had to say about the project and how concerned he was about creating a safe environment.”

“I have been on site trips during my previous course in BC but they were mostly residential single family dwellings and no one from the company doing the construction gave us a tour. Having someone from the company that is in charge of the project gives you a better understanding of what is actually occurring on site at that stage of construction and the reasons behind certain aspects of the structure.”

“Being on an ongoing jobsite was very interesting. I learned a lot of things compared to sitting in class and listening rather than being on a real construction project and being observant. This experience helped me pursue my current program even more.”

There are so many to acknowledge and we will focus on the tour guides this time.  Over the years, we have visited sites of most of the builders. If I should miss a few, I truly apologize. It takes a lot to provide the tours and the time and energy involved does not go unnoticed. The ability to take the hour or two for the tours can be challenge. And over the years with the safety protocols increasing, it has not waivered the enthusiasm to have the students come on site. We thank you all very much.

Past Tour Providers (click on the name to link to their website)

• Thomas Design Builders Ltd
• Manshield Construction
• PCL Construction
• Ernst Hansch Construction Ltd
• Parkwest Projects Ltd
• Bird Construction
• FWS Group
• Milestone Project Management
• LaFarge

2014 Tour Providers (click on the name to link to their website)

• Concord Projects
• Stuart Olson
• Bockstael
• All-Fab Building Components

Thank you to all of you.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin, statesman, inventor, writer