Spend a few minutes talking with Azra Anderson-Milot about her work and her future, and two things quickly become clear.
At just 17 years old, the apprentice heavy duty equipment technician is still slightly cautious about her recent entry into the work world.
On the other hand, her eyes reveal a determined young woman who hasn’t doubted her decisions since she first signed up for a Grade 10 automotives class, and who is very sure she’s found her life’s work with the City.
Azra is one of the four high school students participating with the City of Edmonton’s Fleet Services Branch and Alberta Apprenticeship in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), which enables young people to learn a trade part time while still attending their final year of high school.
“It’s a tight labour market for technicians in Alberta,” says Don Fitzgerald, Director of Municipal Fleet Maintenance, “so it’s in our best interests to find good people and win their loyalty as early in their careers as possible.”
Azra works under the supervision of a journeyman technician, performing all kinds of tasks on the wide range of machinery – from tractors to street sweepers – that must be repaired or maintained by the Fleet Services shop.
“I work with a journeyman on more complex things, but I work alone on the ‘dailies’,” she proudly says. On street sweepers, for example, the ‘dailies’ include maintaining grease and oil levels, changing air filters, checking for hydraulic leaks and changing gutter brooms.
Azra says her Grade 10 automotives class fueled a passion for knowing how things work and how to fix them. In her first automotives class, she and a partner tore down a car engine and completely rebuilt it.
“I took the class because I didn’t want to feel helpless about changing the oil or a flat tire. Then I became intrigued about learning even more.”
Azra feels good about working with the City.
“I get lots of support and help from the other technicians, and I appreciate that we’re not paid a flat rate, so we can concentrate on doing the job well, rather than as fast as we can.”
She quotes the poster above her supervisor’s desk: “Fast. Cheap. Good. You can choose any two, but you’ll never have all three together.”
Once she earns her journeyman ticket, she’ll be able to take her skills anywhere in the world.
“But I’ll most likely stay with the City,” she says, her eyes reflecting determination.
In the meantime, the $14 an hour she’s been earning as an apprentice has found a purpose.
She’s bought a 16-year old Chevy Cavalier, which, once she gets her license, will be the safest, smoothest-running 16-year-old car on the road!
