Young people who enjoy practical, hands-on work may find a wide range of career opportunities in the trowel trades, including bricklaying, stone masonry, marble masonry and tile setting.
That is the message from Ira Maheu, apprenticeship and training co-ordinator with the Trowel Trades Training Association (TTTA) in British Columbia.
“The trowel trades are a great career and there is plenty of work available for tradespeople,” Maheu says.
Bricklaying, in particular, offers a broad variety of applications because of the range of materials and projects involved. Bricklayers build and repair walls, floors, arches, pavings, fireplaces, chimneys, smokestacks, furnaces and kilns.
The work can range significantly in complexity, from a straightforward masonry walkway to an elaborate exterior on a multi-level building.
“The work can vary in complexity from a simple masonry walkway to an ornate exterior on a multi-level building,” says Maheu. “You can find this kind of work in various sectors as well, including industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) and residential.
“Because of the diversity of applications and industries, there is no shortage of work available in the trade.”
The TTTA has been providing training to both union and non-union apprentices registered with SkilledTradesBC, formerly known as the Industry Training Authority, since 1993. SkilledTradesBC oversees British Columbia’s trades training system.
TTTA training generally takes four years to complete and combines technical instruction with work-based training.
“The courses have both theoretical and practical components,” Maheu says. “However, the bulk of the time is spent in the shop, which allows us to replicate the many different on-the-job scenarios you might find throughout your time as a bricklayer.”
Once their training is completed, apprentices become eligible for Red Seal certification, a nationally recognized designation across Canada.
The TTTA’s training facility is centrally located in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver.
The site includes one classroom and a boardroom that is frequently also used for teaching. The association also operates a large shop space that can be divided to accommodate two classes at the same time.
“Our facility has one classroom and one boardroom that is frequently used as a classroom,” says Maheu. “In addition, we have a large shop space that can be divided and can accommodate two classes at the same time.”
The TTTA has instructors specializing in concrete finishing and bricklaying, offering a range of courses throughout the year.
The Bricklayer Level 1 course began Sept. 8 and runs through Oct. 16, while Concrete Finisher Level 1 is scheduled to start Nov. 16 and conclude Dec. 18.
A bricklaying course is set to begin in late October, with additional courses scheduled to start in January 2027.
“We’re here to make sure you have the technical knowledge and hands-on training needed to step into a very rewarding career,” Maheu says.
The training opportunities are also being supported by increased provincial funding. The B.C. government recently announced that it is doubling its funding for skilled trades training, including programs related to the trowel trades, through an investment of $241 million over three years.
The TTTA welcomed the announcement, saying the additional funding could create more opportunities for current and future apprentices as well as trainers.
“This is exciting news for our apprentices, future apprentices and trainers at the Trowel Trades Training Association,” said the TTTA in an announcement. “We hope this investment allows more British Columbians to pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”
