Quinn St. Pierre was looking for a way out of the daily grind of a 9-5 job when a recommendation from his brother led him to take the leap into the trades. It’s a move he does not regret.
The Heavy Equipment apprentice said, “My brother attended OETIO 2 years ago and it sounded and looked interesting to me. I got into the trades in May 2025 when I attended OETIO’s Pre-Apprentice program. A career change to the trades looked a lot more interesting than my previous job – also, the pay for a qualified Operating Engineer is good.”
Having completed his training at OETIO in December, Quinn believes the program has set him up for success.
“Taking the apprenticeship with OETIO is a great way to meet people who have been in the industry and who have valuable information and lessons to pass down.
“The experience lived up to my expectations – I got plenty of seat time and hands-on training instead of in-class or online training. Having so much time in the machines gives you a head start when entering the industry.”