Pembina Trails alum’s career journey reflects goal of new technical vocational programming

An exciting new opportunity is on the way for students in Pembina Trails School Division. A state-of-the-art Technical Vocational Education (TVE) wing is set to open at Pembina Trails Collegiate in fall 2026, with one-week hands-on camps starting in fall before full programs launch in January 2027.

The lineup of programs is built for real-world impact in culinary arts, baking, machining technology, welding, human ecology, and pre-engineering, all of which are open to students across the division. It’s a big step toward giving learners a head start on hands-on careers.

For 2021 Shaftesbury High School graduate Mitchell Woods, this kind of programming would have been a no-brainer.

Raised in a farming family, Woods has always been drawn to machines, mechanics and figuring out how things work. While these new division-run TVE programs weren’t available during his high school years, he still found  ways to follow that passion.

It started with an automotive course through an MITT partnership program in Grades 10 and 11.

“I enjoyed it,” Woods said, “but I was more drawn to the agriculture side because of my family history.”

That interest led to a pivotal opportunity with a work placement at Enns Brothers John Deere in Oak Bluff, arranged with the help of a career and community experience teacher.

“I’d go there for a couple hours a day and help out in the shop,” he recalled. “It was a very welcoming environment and gave me a good foot in the door.”

That door opened wide. Woods was hired on and enrolled in Manitoba’s High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP), allowing him to simultaneously earn high school credits  through the program, gain paid work experience, and complete his academic courses online in his final semester of Grade 12.

Though it meant he was away from his home school, staying connected to friends wasn’t an issue.

“I found that even when working full time, I was able to stay connected with my friends with very little change. It was a bit of an adjustment, but it was easy to balance.”

To top it all off, the apprenticeship hours he logged translated into tuition credits for his technical training.

It gave Woods a serious head start. Now just 22, he’s already a Red Seal Journeyman Agricultural Technician.

“The biggest thing is that it gives you the upper hand,” he said. “I have friends my age who didn’t have trades education opportunities in their high schools. They started their training a couple years later and were still figuring out if it was what they wanted to do. I was able to fast-track that process.”

That’s exactly what Pembina Trails’ new TVE programming aims to deliver: earlier exposure, hands-on learning, and a clearer pathway into careers.

But Woods says the benefits go far beyond those who already know they want to enter the trades.

“Even if you’re still figuring things out, it’s valuable,” he said. “You learn skills you can use every day, like problem-solving and critical thinking. My whole job is figuring things out, and having that experience in high school sets you up for life.”

With the new TVE wing, more Pembina Trails students will have the chance to explore their interests, build practical skills, and get a head start, whether they’re heading straight into the workforce or still discovering their path.

Curious about TVE programs?
Learn more on Pembina Trails Collegiate’s website and speak to your school's administration about registering.