18th Canadian Boilermakers Apprenticeship Competition Winners Announced

July 3, 2012

18th Canadian Boilermakers Apprenticeship Competition Winners Announced

After four days of competition between 14 apprentices from seven different construction lodges across Canada, Brothers Neil Bennett and Clayton Chiurka of Lodge 146 were announced the winners of the 18th Canadian Boilermaker Apprenticeship Competition on June 28, 2012.

[Click to Enlarge] Presenting the Top Team Award.
(Left to Right) Grant Jacobs (Director of National Training), Neil Bennett (2011 Top Apprentice),
Clayton Chiurka (2012 Top Apprentice) and Bruce Ashton.

The week began on Saturday, June 23, with a meet & greet for the competitors with Grant Jacobs, Director of National Training and Jonathan White, Assistant Training Coordinator, to review the upcoming week of activities.

[Click to Enlarge] 2012 Boilermaker Competitors. Front Row (left to right): Alexandre Lapalme-Lajeunesse L-271,
Joe Beauchamp L-128, and Sean Walsh L-203. Middle Row (left to right): Ross Thompson L-359,
Brain Loos L-359, Nathalie Delisle L-271, Paul Salisbury L-128, Dixon Lewis L-73, Neil Bennett L-146,
Back Row (left to right): Justin Brkic L-73, Kory Malakoff L-555 , Roger McGuire L-555,
James Mason L-203 and Clayton Chiurka L-146

Sunday started bright and early with the candidates spending the day writing three exams which covered the Common Core In-School Curriculum, Rigging, and the Boilermaker Constitution. On Sunday evening, all the judges, test coordinators and candidates met for final instructions and social time. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were scheduled as practical testing days at the New Brunswick Community College in Moncton.

Rigging - Using a crane, the teams were required to rig a heat exchanger and move it through a course, maintaining a minimum and maximum load height. This required excellent use of hand signals and tagging the load to maneuver through the course. The competitors were judged on best selection of the rigging equipment, determining crane radius and communication between themselves and the operator to safely lift and move the exchanger though the course.

Tube replacement - The competitors were required to remove and install a tube pup on a water wall using best industry practices.

Hopper Development - Each team was required to layout and fabricate a hopper from a drawing.

Welding & Cutting - Their welding and flame cutting skills were tested with visual and bend tests to prove their abilities.

[Click to Enlarge] The judges for the 18th Canadian Boilermakers Graduate Apprenticeship Competition were Marty Albright, Ken Bachand, Jim Beauchamp, Gabriel Beaulieu, Allan Belter, Al Bennett, Darrell Bray, Joe Flynn, Ed Hoffmann, Marcel Losier, Dave Ralph, Ray Reed, Evan Renaerts and Jerry Zurburg.

[Click to Enlarge] Bruce Ashton (left) and IVP of Eastern Canada, Ed Power, on the night Brother Ashton was recognized by the industry.

This year's competition was also used to recognize Bruce Ashton for his many years of service to the industry as a Red Seal Tradesperson, Instructor and Training Coordinator of Lodge 146 and the National Coordinator for the Boilermakers National Training Trust Fund.

Neil Bennett of Lodge 146 was awarded the 2011 Top Apprentice Award.

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Clayton Chiurka was awarded the 2012 Top Apprentice award.

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And the first ever team award was won by Clayton Chiurka and Neil Bennett of Lodge 146.

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