Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers' Lodge 191 in Victoria, BC, work in the shipyards, federal government dockyards and in fabrication shops. The local has seen her ups and downs since the IBB granted a charter in 1898. Lodge 191 is entering into an exciting time in the shipbuilding and repair industry on the west coast of Canada.

In the shipyard, the employer is Seaspan, who are in middle of a contract to refit five Canadian frigates and will be refitting two more frigates from another country over the next few years. This shipyard also does the refits and maintenance of the country's Pacific fleet submarines. In addition, BC ferries will be updating its fleet of 28 ships. Some of the biggest refits include a three-quarter life upgrade starting this fall on the 139-metre-long Queen of Oak Bay, built in 1981, and a midlife upgrade begins after Christmas on the 96-metre-long Queen of Capilano, built in 1991. We should be hearing soon what shipyard will be doing the work.

The shipyard is situated on the west side of southern Vancouver Island, allowing for easy access for the cruise ship industry that has recognized the highly educated and skilled workforce as depended. Besides ship repair, the workers at the shipyard are very capable to build ships as they have done for the Canadian Coast Guard and for TransLink in Vancouver.

Besides the expanding work picture in the ship repair industry on southern Vancouver Island, the opening of positions in the industry will be due to the retirement of many of those who have made a career in the industry.

Over 140 Boilermakers work for Seaspan and they will be hiring 20 CWB welders - SMAW & FCAW all positions, and 20 Red Seal Metal Fabricators for three weeks, plus for a ship repair job starting October 14th. For more information on the upcoming job, please login to the online system and click on "Job Calls".