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What is Youth Train in Trades? 

Attend a college foundation program to get a head start on your career in the trades while simultaneously earning credits for graduation and your Level 1 technical training in the trade of your choice. By enrolling in the Youth Train in Trades program with SD8, students will have their tuition fees covered by the district as well as receive support from SD8’s Trades Training Coordinator as they transition out of high school. The SD8 YTT program is an elective, capacity-limited program, and seat placement is not guaranteed. Student nomination is based on a comprehensive review of readiness, engagement, and program fit, and is not determined solely by application submission.

How do I apply for Selkirk College?

  1. Phase 1: Exploration & Early Screening (Grade 10: February - May)

    1. Attend the Selkirk College "Made for Trades" event through your school in grade 10 (March) to learn more about the trade of your choice
    2. Attending students are automatically enrolled in SD8 Trades & Dual Credit Pathway Classroom & complete the preparatory activities 
    3. Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) for your trade of choice, and indicate a second option where applicable
    4. Selkirk College will assign reserved seats or waitlisted status (students apply to the waitlist) -- SD8 Career Development team will email families in June
    5. Submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) is part of the screening and nomination process and does not guarantee a reserved seat. Final acceptance decisions are made by the post-secondary institution

  2. Phase 2: Final Review & Application (Grade 11: by September 15)

    1. SD8 Career Development Team conducts a final review and notifies families of application process details for reserved and waitlisted students
    2. Reserved seats student applies directly via EduPlannerBC 
      1. October 1st for next fall cohort (full year or fall semester)
      2. February 1st for next winter cohort
    3. Waitlisted students are responsible for applying directly and early on the above deadlines. 
    4. Successful applicants receive a conditional acceptance letter from Selkirk College, while waitlisted students will receive a waitlist letter.
    5. Students should schedule regular programming to meet graduation requirements in grade 12 until an official college acceptance letter is received.

  3. Phase 3: Students Attend a College Orientation (Grade 11: by June 15)

    1. Conditionally accepted students complete a SkillPlan Canada college readiness assessment organized at each school site 
    2. Conditionally accepted students attend a designated pre-orientation at Selkirk College by June
    3. College will communicate directly with students regarding start-up and schedule
    4. Family pays college registration fee, seat deposit, toolbox fee, textbooks and supplies and SD8 pays tuition and mandatory fees only for students who successfully complete the program. Early program withdrawal will result in families completing tuition payment.

Selkirk College Resources

How do I apply for College of the Rockies?

Step 1: Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) and hand in to your KRSS YTT Teacher or Counsellor by end of May (Grade 10)

Step 2: Regional committee (SD5, 6, & 8) will review the EOI's and choose most eligible candidates. Seat placements are not guaranteed, and student should a) contact their counsellor for regular grade 12 scheduling that may include Work Experience 12 and/or Youth Work in Trades 12 where applicable. Please visit the Youth Work in Trades website for further information.

Step 3: Students who have EOI's approved begin COTR application package process (November 1st) and completes December 15th.

Step 4: COTR will send students a conditional letter of acceptance via email in January.

College of the Rockies Resources

General YTT Resources

Information & Downloadables: