Student Spotlight: Weiming Tang

Completing the tuition-free welding program has been one of the most important changes in mine and my family’s life.

I was a newcomer to Canada in February 2020; living in China before arriving in Brandon, I worked in sales. I wanted to learn a skill and become a skilled worker for my new life in Canada. Fortunately, I received the opportunity to participate in the Tuition-free Welding program, which I have now graduated successfully from and entered the trade where I work as a welder.

I enjoyed the welding training in the shop. Everything in the Tuition-free Welding program was new for me. In fact, I had never manipulated or used a welding machine before starting this program.

My welding instructor, Heather Bruederlin, was really patient and professional. She showed me how to weld and taught me the skills over and over until I was able to do it confidently. She also helped me find my practicum location.

There were definitely some challenges during the program. There was a welding test that I was really frustrated with. It was a 1G SMAW welding and banding test. I failed to band many times. Fortunately, Heather continued to show me how to weld, and I continued to practice the test until I passed right before Christmas. On the other hand, I’m really proud that I passed the CWB certification weld tests in one go. At the end of January, I received a job offer as a welder from an employer, which was really exciting. There was no waiting time, and I could earn the wage that I was training for straight away. This was really important because I had had no income for 13 months.

Learn more about our Trades programs or visit assiniboine.net/programs to read more student and staff spotlights.