Coquitlam students are getting greater access to woodworking classes — thanks to a new program at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
The program, which is a partnership between Coquitlam School District and KPU’s Faculty of Trades and Technology, is providing safety training to middle and high school teachers, allowing them to teach shop class at their respective schools. While many schools across the district have shop facilities, several are underutilized due to a gap in teachers with the required safety training.
“Our school has a woodworking shop, but for the last five or six years, we haven't had a teacher that's certified to turn the power on,” says Ryan Wiskar, a middle school teacher who participated in the program this year. “I think it's really worthwhile for the students to be able to work with tools and have some of those skills in life, and it might also inspire them to pursue a related career.”
Through a two-week program, the teachers learn how to safely use various pieces of shop equipment, perform basic maintenance on the machines — from changing the blades to changing out grits of sandpaper — and learn how to produce small projects that they can then teach their students.
First piloted in 2025, the program has trained eight Coquitlam School District teachers to date. The curriculum is designed for beginners, but the program is also open to certified shop class teachers who are interested in refining their skills.
“All of the teachers have come in with a prior interest in woodworking, and it’s probably one of the most attentive groups I've ever had,” says KPU carpentry instructor Terry Williams, who developed the program. “They work so diligently and it’s been a real pleasure to teach this class.”
For more information about the program and how to register, visit the Shop Machinery Safety page.
