Dawson Creek students learn to build a house to earn college credits

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Grade 12 students from Dawson Creek Secondary School have the opportunity to build a house from start to finish, thanks to the enhanced carpentry foundation program at Northern Lights College (NLC).

Rod Cork, associate dean of trades at NLC, says the program is in partnership with Skilled Trades BC and is a dual credit program, which allows grade 12 students to complete their credits at the high school and the college.

“They continue on through the same program and complete their first-year qualifications as well as their second-year qualifications and are provided a significant contribution towards the hours of their apprenticeship as well,” Cork explained.

The students will do everything from foundation to painting, landscaping and even the driveway.

“When available, we will have the plumbing class contribute to the plumbing in the building,” Cork said.

“Electrical, of course, is based out of Fort St. John, so we’re unable to include them… So electrical is done through outside contractors.”

Over the years, he says, the construction industry has seen an increase in the rigidity and strictness of the homes they build. 

This year, the house will use structurally insulated panels, or SIP, which Cork says is basically a pile of pre-engineered panels.

“Once the foundation and the base walls are in there, students will lay the flooring structure, and then they should be able to stand the majority of the house’s floor plan in about a day or day and a half,” Cork said.

Building a house from the ground up has been part of the course taught by Ryan Mayoh for many years.

Once the house is complete, it goes to the real estate market, and the money returns to the college for the following year’s build.

“They’ve built homes in Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe,” Cork said. “It’s a really big piece for our communities here every year. There seems to be a growing competition as to who’s going to get to buy the house.”

This year’s build is very close to the college, Cork says, and residents are welcome to drive by to see what the class is doing.

“They’re building right across the road on 116th Avenue, right outside the back of our new trade centre,” Cork said.

The class usually ranges from 12 to 16 students, while this year’s class has 10.

For more information on the program, visit NLC’s website.