09-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sponsored Content Bricklayer program provides exciting opportunity for young learner
They may not be physically present with him, but Stacy Kiyewakan's family is never far from his thoughts when he's in class.
Kiyewakan is enrolled in the Pre-Apprentice Bricklayer Program offered by First Peoples Development Inc. (FPDI), a non-profit organization that facilitates partnerships designed to develop and deliver training-to-employment programs to meet labour market needs.
The program was designed in conjunction with Bricklayers Union Local 1 to give Indigenous people training in employment readiness, safety, and construction skills to facilitate a direct pathway to apprenticeship and employment in the construction industry.
Kiyewakan and his classmates are scheduled to graduate from the program in June with their Level 1 apprenticeship accreditation after completing 800 hours of training. They will then have an opportunity to put the skills they have learned into practice as part of a three-month work placement that could lead to permanent, fulltime employment.
Kiyewakan, 20, says the opportunity to earn a regular paycheque and help support his parents and three siblings is one of the reasons he enrolled in the program in the first place. His mom is currently working full-time while his dad takes care of his three younger siblings. 'I'm kind of excited to help out my mom with the bills and she'll probably be happy about that too,' he says. 'I want to take some weight off of her shoulders.'
Kiyewakan is part of the first group of students taking part in the bricklayers program being offered by FPDI at the Manitoba Building Trades Institute (MBTI) on McPhillips Street.
He learned about the program while he was taking part in FPDI's Workforce Ready program that prepares individuals to enter the workforce. He was intrigued by what it had to offer and decided to switch programs. Kiyewakan says the generous salaries and benefits workers in the construction industry can earn was a prime reason for making the switch.
One of the aspects of the Bricklayer program Kiyewakan enjoys most is its focus on handson learning. He and his classmates learn everything from how to build walls and floors to applying damp proofing.
'I like to be a watch-and-learn kind of guy,' he says.
'I don't like to just sit and read a book all day. I need to physically learn how to do (something) in order to know what I'm doing.'
Kiyewakan also appreciates the fact instructors for the course have worked in construction for decades and are willing to share their knowledge with him and other students in the program. That includes technical tips on how to carry out routine tasks as well as how to conduct themselves on a jobsite.
'It definitely helps because they treat it like we're on an actual job,' he says.
'And they're very strict on the things that they teach us about. They always want us to be here early … and make sure everyone's here to work and ready to go.'
Kiyewakan is looking forward to gaining some on-the-job experience as part of his upcoming work placement.
'It's pretty exciting. I'm also kind of nervous about it because I've never really had a job before so this will be my first time being on an actual job.'
The next Bricklayer program begins in fall 2025. For details about the program and its prerequisites, please visit
