You finish high school, you go to university or college for a while, you try to find a job in your field. New grads these days have been there, done that, and want more – so Canadian colleges are offering it. There’s an amazing array of courses and post-grad programs available across the country, and we’ve picked a few favorites for your perusal. Go out and explore, and don’t forget to send us a postcard when you get there!
Wine, Beer, and Song
Niagara College, located in Ontario’s very own wine country, offers two programs to tempt the tipsiest of us. Wine lovers can enroll in the winery and viticulture technician program and earn either a diploma or certificate with courses like ‘Sensory Evaluation of Wines’ and ‘History of Wine’ , along with lots of biology, chemistry, and horticultural education. The program is conducted at the school’s own teaching winery. Beer barons find their own place at Niagara College in the two-year brewmaster and brewery operations manager diploma program, which is backed by the Ontario Craft Brewers Industry and taught at
Canada’s only teaching brewery. For end users, many colleges across the country offer bartending courses that range from basic, one-day sessions to exhaustive 15 week certificate programs.
With the drinks taken care of, we’ll need some live music. Keyano College in Fort McMurray, AB offers a truly unique diploma program in musical instrument repair – the only one of its kind in all of North America. Which is good, because between the wine and the beer, some guitars are bound to get smashed.
Planes, trains, and...
Ever wanted to yell out “All aboard!” and really mean it? Railway conductor certificate programs are available at both SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary, AB and Red River College in Winnepeg, MA, and run only 15 weeks. Not bad, considering the amazing hat you’ll get to wear. Councilman Doug would be proud.
If the sky is your limit, look east to Moncton Flight College in Moncton, NB. While tons of colleges coast to coast offer courses in aircraft maintenance and repair, this school is completely dedicated to getting you in the air.
Your days of living vicariously through Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper could finally come to an end at Grande Prairie Regional College in Fairview, AB. Their Harley-Davidson technician certificate program is the only authorized training centre in Canada for the iconic choppers.
Under the Sea!
Swim with the fishes as an aquaculture technician at New Brunswick Community College’s one-year certificate program in St Andrews. Not as Piscean but no less wet and wild, the underwater skills certificate at Seneca College in Toronto, ON and Holland College’s commercial diving program in Summerside, PEI both equip you for construction and salvage operations, offshore drilling, search and rescue operations, and more.
Green is the Word
The urban arboriculture certificate from Humber College in Toronto, ON prepares you for a life in the treetops, with emphasis placed on climbing, aerial rescue, rigging, and other squirrely arts. And if you’re not so good with heights, the urban forestry certificate program at Fleming College in Lindsay, ON focuses on all the “non-climbing” aspects of tree-hugging.
The sustainable energy sector is poised to explode (in a totally carbon-neutral manner of course) so get gone with the wind sooner rather than later. Wind turbine technician programs are newly available at Lethbridge College in Lethbridge, AB, St Lawrence College in Kingston, ON, and Holland College in Summerside, PEI.
Courses on Horses
If you’d like your home to be on the range, consider cowboy training at Lakeland College in Vermilion, AB. At their Western ranch and cow horse program you’ll spend part of every day on working on your horsemanship skills; once you earn your certificate, strut your stuff at the school’s annual working cowboy competition. More horseplay is afoot (ahoof?) at Olds College in Olds, AB, where you can train to become a racetrack groom or exercise rider, a jockey, or a ferrier – that’s the guy who shoes horses, FYI. jp