SD60 hosted 22nd annual ‘Project Heavy Duty’ program

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The School District 60’s (SD60) annual “Project Heavy Duty” program had about 13 students participating in a “real replica job site.” 

The district organized its 22nd annual Project Heavy Duty program from May 25th to May 29th, featuring high school students from across the district. 

Jeff Mayer, the work experience coordinator for SD60, said: “The purpose behind Project Heavy Duty is to immerse students in a real replica job site they might find in the oil patch construction industry here in Fort St. John.” 

Mayer said 13 kids participated in the latest event, 11 boys and two girls, who learned to operate heavy equipment.

“We were moving dirt, stripping, and preparing the site at Parkwood Properties, and [the site may actually become the site of the new pool,” Mayer explained. 

This project, Mayer believes, will give students a skill set they can take with them. 

He noted: “They learn all sort[s] of different machines, from dozers to excavators to packers, we got the [grader], rock trucks and they also learn a little bit about basic site development, engineering and soil compaction.”  

According to SD60’s website, Project Heavy Duty began in 2002 as a joint venture between the district and local industry companies, led by Richard Koop, Richard Sewell, and Donnie Goodbun, who served as the industry liaison. 

“They ran it up until it got shut down during Covid, and then in 2022, because I was a part of Project Heavy Duty, just kind of on the outskirts and [I] had a good understanding of it, I was approached by the school district to see if we [could] get it back up and running,” he explained. 

Over the years, the project has had the same community donors and partners,  

He said: “Our company, Strad, who we get our rig mats from, their drivers [were] on holiday, they informed me they weren’t able to deliver the rig mats. Two phone calls and three minutes later, I had a truck to deliver rig mats…that’s how amazing this community is.” 

“[Poor Boy Trucking Ltd.] stepped up to the plate and helped us out; everybody really takes care of us. Sometimes, we have situations that are pressing…people just jump on board to help us out every which way. So, we cannot thank the community enough.” 

For the next Project Heavy Duty, which will be held in the last week of May 2027, Mayer will direct people to the website and the upcoming donor sign, which will be posted at the Parkwood site. 

“We have symbols and logos from our donor companies, from financial to equipment to fuel to grease to you name it, people just jump right in there to help us out,” Mayer added. 

He said students who participated in the recent event loved it. 

“I see them back at school today in classes, and they’re like little sad. You go from driving heavy equipment for a week to a Mac in class,” he explained. 

Mayer thanked the community for their continued support of this program. 

He said: “We can’t do it without this community, and this community is a real gem in its generosity to supporting the growth of students.”