Project Heavy Duty

What is Project Heavy Duty?

Project Heavy Duty is a program offered by School District No. 60 where approximately (16) sixteen senior high school students from all across the district are excused from classes for a week for the opportunity to learn about and operate many kinds of heavy equipment. Participants also receive instruction in servicing and operating each piece of equipment on the job site by qualified operators. Under the close supervision of qualified operators, students receive hands-on training with heavy equipment such as crawler/dozers, excavators, graders, rock trucks and a variety of logging equipment on a real job site.

Numerous local contractors, businesses and other agencies generously supply or financially support equipment and operators, facilities, fuel, first aid, security, communications equipment and other services required for the project. A list of project sponsors is provided on this website.

Safety is of the utmost concern to all those involved in organizing Project Heavy Duty. Students will receive training in site safety from WorkSafe officers and other safety personnel at the beginning of the week. All WorkSafe guidelines for standard work sites are followed and students receive one-on-one safety instruction from qualified operators before operating each piece of equipment. Qualified operators remain on the equipment with student operators; site supervisors are assigned to each area of the project.

What are the benefits to students participating in Project Heavy Duty?

Students who take part in this project benefit in many ways:

Hands-on experience with heavy equipment adds to skills for possible future employment
Exposure to different career choices
Opportunity to meet local business people and potential employers
Experience on real-life job site
Learn valuable skills relating to safety at the workplace
Learn various job application skills, i.e. writing applications, résumés, interviews

Benefits to Sponsors

An excellent opportunity for the business and heavy construction community in the Fort St. John area to work together with the school district in helping young people develop employability skills related to the heavy construction industry on a real and functioning worksite.
Help train and identify potential employees for the future.
Media coverage of the event (newspaper, social media, highway sign, and TV news, if available).
There is a sponsor BBQ at the end of the event, where sponsors can meet the student participants, network, and celebrate.
Any donations are tax deductible. Receipts for all types of donations can be issued.

School District No. 60 recognizes the need for involving local business and industry leaders to ensure the continued success of Project Heavy Duty. The shared expertise of individuals and companies familiar with the heavy construction industry is essential to provide a quality program that will help students develop valuable skills for future employment in the heavy equipment workplace.

Become part of the action.

There are costs associated with the event. Our budget goes towards any supplies or services not covered by donation. Everything from security, to promotional apparel, to fuel, to the sponsor BBQ, there are many expenses that need to be covered through donations. The Fort St. John community and corporate sponsors have been very generous over the years and have allowed us to continue to provide this unique opportunity for the students of School District No. 60. We would like to continue on with this event for decades to come and we need all the help we can get.

If you would like to become a sponsor of Project Heavy Duty, please feel free to etransfer funds to the following site: projecthd@prn.bc.ca

Please submit a high resolution logo (JPEG or PNG) to jmayer@prn.bc.ca to be showcased on our donor sign, which is on display on the West Bypass Road for almost a year.

Tax receipts will be issued expediently.

How are students selected for the program?

Students submit an application form and résumé at their high school and are interviewed for selection into the project. Students from North Peace Secondary, Hudson’s Hope, Prespatou and Distance Education are eligible.

Factors to be considered in selecting students for the project include: