Getting My Hands Dirty: Welding & Steamfitting with Skills Canada

I’ve spent a lot of time on construction sites, so I’m pretty comfortable around tools, and materials. But one thing I’ve always been facinated with is welding and steamfitting.

That’s exactly why I’m loving this series with Skills Canada.

For this episode, I stepped way outside my comfort zone and dove into the world of welding and steamfitting at the Local 46 Training Centre. And let me tell you — this is a whole different level of precision, skill and safety!

I got to learn from Gia, a former Skills Ontario competitor and her mentor and Welding Instructor Marty, who walked me through some of the fundamentals and gave me a real look at what it takes to build a career in these trades.

 

It’s About More Than Just Welding

 

When most people think about welding, they probably picture sparks flying and someone joining two pieces of metal together. But that’s only part of it –  there is SO much more.

On a construction site, I’m used to seeing welds that help hold a structure together. But in steam fitting, the stakes can be completely different. You’re dealing with systems where a bad weld or connection can have serious consequences.

That really made me appreciate just how much training and knowledge goes into these careers.

And that’s one of the biggest things I’ve taken away from working with Skills Canada: skilled trades aren’t just about working with your hands. They require knowledge, problem-solving, precision and a ton of dedication.

 

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Starting With the Basics

 

Before I got anywhere near the welding equipment, we started with something a little more familiar — soldering.

And honestly, there’s a lesson here that every homeowner should know.

 

 

If your pipe isn’t properly cleaned, the solder isn’t going to stick the way it should, and that can lead to leaks. It might seem like a small detail, but in the trades, those small details matter.

That’s something I love about skilled trades. You can have all the fancy tools in the world, but if you don’t understand the fundamentals, you’re going to run into problems.

Women Are Making Their Mark

 

One of the things that really stood out to me was hearing about the growing number of women entering welding and steamfitting.

Marty told me that his welding class is now approaching 20% women, which is pretty awesome to hear.

For a long time, trades like welding and steamfitting were seen as careers for men. But that’s changing — and it needs to keep changing.

There is absolutely a place for women in the skilled trades.

And as someone who has worked in construction for years, I know firsthand that being in a traditionally male-dominated industry can come with challenges. But I also know how rewarding it can be.

You don’t have to believe in old stereotypes to be good at a trade. You just need the willingness to learn, work hard and keep improving.

 

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Welding, Sparks and Fire!

 

 

Okay… this is where things got a little intimidating!

I’ll be honest — when I first looked at all the welding equipment, I had no idea what I was looking at.  The oxy-acetylene cutting machine, the orbital welder, and that’s just the start.

That’s also what makes these episodes so much fun.

I’m not walking in pretending to be an expert. I’m there to learn.

And having instructors who are willing to slow things down, explain what they’re doing and let me try it myself makes all the difference.

Mentorship is such a huge part of the skilled trades. You don’t become an expert overnight. You learn from people who have been there, you make mistakes, you ask questions and you keep practicing.

 

The People Behind the Trades

 

Gia shared that her own path into the trade was influenced by his older sister, who is a plumber at Local 46. How cool is that?

I love hearing stories like that because it shows how important mentorship and family can be when it comes to finding your career.

Sometimes all it takes is one person to introduce you to something you never knew was an option.

That’s one of the reasons I think programs like Skills Canada are so important. They give young people the chance to try something for themselves instead of simply being told what a career is like.

You might discover a trade you never even knew existed — and it could end up being the career you love.

 

There’s a Lot to Be Proud Of

 

After spending the day learning about welding and steam fitting, I walked away with an even greater appreciation for the people who work in these trades.

These are skilled professionals who build, maintain and keep so many of the systems we rely on every day working safely.

And I think we need to do a better job of talking about that.

The skilled trades are essential to our future. We need the next generation of welders, steamfitters, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, technicians and so many other skilled professionals.

And we need to make sure young people know these are careers worth being proud of.

 

Want to See Me Take on Welding?

If you want to see how I actually did — including the parts where I had absolutely NO idea what I was doing — you’ll have to watch the full episode!

I’m really proud of this series with Skills Canada because I’m getting the chance to explore trades that I don’t normally work in, meet some incredible people and hopefully show young people just how many opportunities are out there.

Head over to my YouTube channel, @TheSherryHolmesDIYChannel, and watch the full episode!

 

And if there’s another skilled trade you’d like to see me try, let me know!

 

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