Students Dig Into Career Exploration at Heavy Metal Rocks 2025

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Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications and Board Administration

For 17 years, the Kamloops-Thompson School District’s Heavy Metal Rocks program has been offering hands-on career exploration experiences for students interested in careers in trades. This annual career development event provides a unique opportunity for secondary students to explore career choices as heavy equipment operators in a variety of industries.

This year, thirty-two Grade 11 and 12 students participated from secondary schools across the District, including Barriere Secondary, Brocklehurst Secondary, Chase Secondary, Clearwater Secondary, Logan Lake Secondary, NorKam Secondary, Sa-Hali Secondary, South Kamloops Secondary, Valleyview Secondary, Westsyde Secondary, and Twin Rivers Education Centre. In order to take part in this popular Trades and Transitions program, students had to submit their application and then be interviewed by a panel of District staff and industry professionals.

From April 9–12, 2025 at the Tk’emlúps Gravel Pit, participating students gained valuable experience operating heavy machinery with one-to-one guidance and mentorship from certified operators and mentors. With 16 different stations to explore, students were able to focus on forestry or construction machinery, depending on their area of interest and career goals. As part of the program, students also received certifications in first aid, site safety, WHMIS, forklift operation, and aerial platform lift operation.

The industry professionals who train and mentor the students on heavy equipment and machinery are volunteers or sponsored by their companies who donate staff time and equipment to support the program. These operators are extremely passionate about their work and providing relevant training opportunities for students. Stu Ford is an operator who has been volunteering with Heavy Metal Rocks since 2012, taking time off work and travelling from Fort McMurray to attend every year. Stu shared, “I wish we had this when I was in high school. These kids are extremely fortunate to have this program and I make sure every one of them knows how lucky they are. I am passionate about what I do, I love running equipment for a living… so for me to be able to give that back to the kids and see kids that come up here and are excited to run it like I would be, that's what gives me the joy. I love what I do and I love being able to pass it on.”

While learning the machinery and equipment, students were encouraged to have fun, be safe, and not be afraid to make a mess so they could learn what the machines can do. Most students participating in the program had never operated heavy duty machinery before and after working at a few stations many expressed “that does way more than I thought it could.”

Willow Hart, a Grade 11 student at NorKam Secondary, described her experience at Heavy Metal Rocks as “really fun. It was interesting to be able to work on the machines with a bit of freedom.” Willow has been accepted into the Heavy Duty Mechanics program at TRU during her Grade 12 year in Fall 2025 and when thinking about her future career goals, she expressed that “operating seems like something I could have a sustainable future with later on”. When asked if other students should apply to the program, Willow said, “I would tell them to do it. You have an opportunity to win things and get job experience… Now I can say I’ve worked on a rock truck, I know the basics about excavating, and I know other things about forestry and construction.”   

On Saturday, April 12, 2025, after three and a half days of on-site, hands-on learning, students gathered at the Heavy Metal Rocks BBQ and Awards Ceremony with the Steering Committee, District staff, volunteers, families, friends, and special guests including Trustee O’Fee, Trustee Hickson, and Trustee Kang from the Kamloops Thompson Board of Education. Students were presented with completion certifications and several awards were handed out to celebrate the students’ hard work and commitment (see full list of awards below). 

Ron Collins, Logan Lake Principal and Chair of the Heavy Metal Rocks Steering Committee, emphasized the benefits provided to students and the committee’s hope of expanding the program to include more students in future years. “The program started with 12 students in our first year and has grown to the point now where we have 32 students participating this year, and we are hoping to grow it to possibly 40 students next year,” he shared. “The biggest thing students takeaway is that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they want to continue on as a heavy equipment operator, whether it's in the forestry stream or the construction stream. They have spent three and a half days on the equipment and got some certifications which makes them more employable if they continue on.”

Heavy Metal Rocks is made possible thanks to the Heavy Metal Rocks Steering Committee and volunteer efforts of 120 companies and sponsors within our community. There are only a handful of similar programs in the province, making Heavy Metal Rocks a remarkable career exploration opportunity for students and a valuable resource to address a growing skilled trades labour shortage. Learn more about the program here and watch the Heavy Metal Rocks video here.

2025 Heavy Metal Rocks Student Award Winners

• Best Overall Student Operator, Construction: Keegan Fretz, South Kamloops Secondary
• Best Overall Student Operator, Forestry: Deagen Lamarche, Westsyde Secondary
• Best Overall Student Operator, Female: Willow Hart, NorKam Secondary
• Best Overall Student Operator, Aboriginal: Hudson Damberger, Logan Lake Secondary
• Most Improved Rookie Operator: Brodie Collins, Sa-Hali Secondary
• Steering Committee Choice Award: Kileigh Foisy, Clearwater Secondary
• Steve Rothman Pit Boss Award: Jayse Tinline, Twin Rivers Education Centre
• Student’s Choice Team Spirit Award: Brodie Malcolm, Westsyde Secondary
• Exemplary Safety Award, Construction: McKinley Journeay, NorKam Secondary
• Exemplary Safety Award, Forestry: Alexzander Hedman, Clearwater Secondary
• TRU Awards: Zane Biggar, Valleyview Secondary & Deagen Lamarche, Westsyde Secondary
• Stobbe Rodeo (Mini-Excavator) Competition:
• Fastest Female Time: Willow Hart, NorKam Secondary
• Fastest Male Time: Richard Blanke, Barriere Secondary
• International Union of Operating Engineers Heavy Equipment Operator Training prize: Jeremy Stein, Westsyde Secondary