Building a Future in Carpentry

Liam Van Roonʼs NLC Success Story

At just 17 years old, Liam Van Roon has already laid the foundation for a promising career in carpentry.

As a graduate of the Pre-Employment Carpenter program at Northern Lakes College, Liam has leveraged his early education into a full-time position with Biggs and Little Contracting.

Growing up in a family of tradespeople, Liam always had a passion for using his skills to create something new. When Liam learned about the Dual Credit program at Northern Lakes College, he saw an opportunity to get a head start on his career while still earning high school credits.

“A lot of people don’t realize it’s an option,” said Liam. “It’s great because you get knowledge from the college while working toward your high school diploma. It helped me finish the last credits I needed to graduate.”

Liam officially graduated high school early and is now working full-time as a carpenter.

“I did the first semester at Northern Lakes College, and now I’m in the workforce full time. It’s been a smooth transition,” said Liam.

His time at Northern Lakes College gave him a strong foundation, both in technical skills and in professional confidence.

“I really liked the college experience,” said Liam. “The small class sizes and one-on-one instruction make it easy to learn. It’s a great environment.”

Liam’s pre-employment training has proven invaluable on the job site and gave him an edge when applying for work.

“Having the program on my resume makes a huge difference,” said Liam. “It shows you’ve taken initiative to learn the trade rather than coming in with no experience.”

Liam encourages other high school students to take advantage of the Dual Credit and Pre-Employment programs at Northern Lakes College.

“Try it out and follow through. Even if you decide later that carpentry isn’t for you, you’ll always have that knowledge and experience to fall back on. It’s a win-win—you get high school credits and career training at the same time.”

Northern Lakes College offers many programs through Supported Distance Learning.

Get more information at northernlakescollege.ca/programs-courses