Toiling at O’Connor RV Centre in Chilliwack, Lindsay Butt may not dress the part of a pioneer, but she is carving new pathways in the trades in British Columbia.

Butt, a native of Vernon BC, is the first female in British Columbia certified as a Recreational Vehicle Service Technician. She completed all the requirements of her apprenticeship this spring and graduated from the RV Service Technician program at Okanagan University College. (OUC is the only institution in British Columbia that offers the program, which was developed in conjunction with the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of BC.)

"I love it," she says, during a break from her duties. "It’s a great job, if you don’t mind getting a little dirty. . . ."

"Lindsay was the first of our female students to complete all the requirements of her RV apprenticeship, including the 4,000-plus hours of workplace experience," explains John Haller, Dean of OUC’s Faculty of Industrial Trades and Services. "But there are others who are nearing completion, and we’re finding a growing interest among women in this and other trades."

What attracted Lindsay to the RV trade was the broad spectrum of work within the field. She’d contemplated heavy duty mechanics (another trade taught by OUC), but thought this was more to her liking. To qualify for certification in the trade, apprentices have to be familiar with RV plumbing systems, mechanical systems, propane systems, and appliances. "They also have to learn some construction techniques, they have to learn about air conditioning, electrical systems, and fibreglass and body repairs," notes Al Cohoe, the chair of the RV Service Technician program.

"Every day is different, every job is different," says Butt, who had no problems finding work in the field — even as an apprentice.

"We’re getting calls daily from RV outlets across Western Canada," says Cohoe. "The last day of classes this year, I took five calls from dealers looking for students to come to work for them. I couldn’t help them — all our students already had work."

The demand for the qualified trades people isn’t likely to drop off any time soon. The RV industry is reporting a surge in sales this year. As of mid-January, Winnebago (the largest producers of motorhomes) had a sales-order backlog on Class A and C models that stood at 2,365 units. That is a 70 percent jump over January 2000.

The RV Technician apprenticeship program involves classroom and on-the-job training. Students have to complete 4,640 hours in shops and another 720 hours of in-school training. In the process, they also have to acquire a propane ticket.

For more information on the RV Technician program and other trades programs at OUC, you can visit the Faculty’s webpage - www.ouc.bc.ca/trades - or you can call 250-862-5457.