Houle brings plumbing expertise back to classroom

When Ashley Houle was in high school in Ebb and Flow First Nation, he never considered the possibility of being a plumber someday, let alone teaching the trade to others.

“It never crossed my mind,” he says. “I planned to go into natural resources when I was in high school.”

After graduating from high school, however, Ashley says, “I was in automotive, and did electrical work – residential – for an electrician before that. I moved to Brandon and I had an option for school that would be paid for, so I figured I’d try another trade and plumbing looked interesting. So, the plumbing trade more or less fell into my lap.”

Ashley graduated from Assiniboine’s piping trades program in 2005, and almost 20 years later, he owns and operates A Plus Plumbing & Heating in Dauphin.

“I worked for a plumbing and heating company in Dauphin. I finished my piping trades, I took practicums, and they hired me right after that,” he says. “I kept going through the apprenticeship program with my levels when I could. I kept going to back to [Assiniboine] at every level and then eventually got my journeyman out of it.”

Ashley graduated from Assiniboine in 2011 with his Level 4 plumbing certification.

“In 2014, Durston Plumbing and Heating – Keith and Ann Durston – presented me with an opportunity to buy their business. So, I bought the business in 2015, and I’m still in business.”

When asked what aspects of plumbing he enjoys most, Ashley says “I enjoy service calls mostly, because it makes you think. It keeps your mind sharp, because there’s always a problem you have to try to fix. Why is it happening? And then you find the solution and you’re happy when it’s done.”

As much as he enjoys service calls, however, Ashley is also now devoting a portion of his time toward passing his knowledge to a new generation of trades students. Last year, he was an instructor for Assiniboine’s Applied Plumbing program in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Garden Hill First Nation. This winter, he will be teaching the program in St Theresa Point.

Being an instructor has been far more rewarding than Ashley expected.

“I’ve always said I would never teach,” he says, “Always having to deal with students, it looked like hard work, but it was good. I hit the ground running. I actually felt comfortable.”

Looking to the future, the father of three boys plans to continue teaching, while also operating his plumbing business. “I’m hoping to do both,” he says. “Six months teaching, six months I come home and do some service calls when I can.”

For those considering a career in plumbing, or simply a new career direction, Ashley has some good advice: “When the road gets tough, just keep going. Keep on going. Look at every opportunity, whether it’s good or bad. That’s the lesson.