News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A new chair and members have been appointed to the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Board.

"I am pleased with the high-calibre individuals who have been named to the board," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Danny Soucy. "These members are representative of a wide range of personal and professional backgrounds that will undoubtedly bring added and immediate value to the work done by the board."

The new members, nominated by the industry they represent, will join several other New Brunswickers already serving on the board for three years. Scott Toner replaces George Estey as the new board chair.

"On behalf of the Government of New Brunswick, I thank Mr. Estey for his invaluable contribution to the board as its past chair for the last three years," said Soucy. "His dedication to the board and helping New Brunswickers receive the education and training they need to achieve success and meaningful employment was second to none."

Apprenticeship is a long-standing part of the training and education system in New Brunswick. It is a structured training program involving the apprentice, the employer and the provincial government as represented by Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification.

Following is a list of the new members of the board:

Voting members
Scott Toner – appointment as chair
Toner is the executive manager of Toner Garage Holdings Ltd., including family-owned vehicle dealerships in Edmundston, Grand Falls and Tracadie-Sheila. His businesses employ apprentices and journeypersons in various automotive occupations. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the Université de Moncton.  

Kim Blyth – appointment as an employee representative
Blyth is the assistant business manager for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers, Local 73. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including supervisory and leadership roles, and the direct supervision of apprentices. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the construction boilermaker occupation.  

Mario Theriault – appointment as an employee representative
Theriault is employed at Twin Papers Paper Co. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including the supervision of apprentices. He has served as an executive member of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 29, for the past 12 years. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the industrial instrument mechanic occupation.  

Gordon Roy – appointment as an employer representative
Roy is the supervisor of safety, emergency preparedness and employee health and safety management for Falconbridge Brunswick Mine. He has more than 40 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including the development and facilitation of safety programs. He has extensive experience with committees and community involvement including his service as a city councillor and deputy mayor of Bathurst. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the industrial instrument mechanic occupation.  

David Giles – appointment as an employer representative
Giles is the owner of DC Electrical Service and Maintenance Inc. He has more than 30 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including the direct supervision of apprentices. Giles is actively involved in various employer associations and including past chair of the Construction Association of New Brunswick and the Fredericton Northwest Construction Association. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the construction electrician occupation.  

Christina Taylor – appointment as an employer representative
Taylor is the manager of labour relations and workforce development at Irving Oil Ltd. She is also the program director for the New Brunswick Teen Apprenticeship Program. Her responsibilities include maintaining appropriate opportunities for apprenticeships at Irving Oil Ltd. She has extensive experience with boards and committees, including her role as chair of the Employment Insurance Board of Referees. She earned a bachelor of arts degree from McGill University and a law degree from the University of New Brunswick.  

Darren Sutherland – appointment as an employer representative
Sutherland is the owner of Modern Electric Ltd. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including the direct supervision of apprentices. Sutherland is actively involved as a board member of MERIT Contractors Association and a member of the Fredericton Northwest Construction Association, Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Local Advisory Committee for Construction Electricians. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the construction electrician occupation.

Rockland Matchett – re-appointment as an employee representative
Matchett is a lead hand at Sunny Corner Enterprises Inc. and serves as the fabrication training co-ordinator and Level 1 Canadian Welding Bureau welding inspector for his employer. He has more than 25 years’ experience working in the skilled trades, including the direct supervision of apprentices. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the steel fabricator (fitter) occupation and a certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the industrial mechanic (millwright) occupation.

Continuing members of the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification Board:

Michel Boudreau – employee representative
Boudreau works as a dietary utility at the Villa du Repos and is the past president of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. He served as president of the federation for eight years and served as president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 2079, and as president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions (Canadian Union of Public Employees), where he was the representative on the executive of Canadian Union of Public Employees – New Brunswick as well as the New Brunswick Nursing Homes workplace health and safety best practice working group. He served at the national level as co-chair of the Canadian Union of Public Employees national committee on privatization and contracting out. He served on the national health committee of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. He has served on the New Brunswick Federation of Labour political education committee and completed numerous union training and education courses.  

Richard Smith – employee representative
Smith is the provincial training co-ordinator for the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters/Mechanical Contractors Association joint apprenticeship training committee. He has more than six years of supervisory and leadership experience, having direct supervision of apprentices for the past five years. He is a graduate of the apprenticeship and occupational certification program, having received his diploma of apprenticeship and certificate of qualification, with interprovincial standard endorsement, for the sprinkler system installer occupation.  

Ken Martin – employer representative
Martin is the senior project manager and general manager for Atlantic Mechanical Contractors Inc. – New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island offices. He has more than 26 years of industry-related experience and 14 years in a supervisory and leadership role. He is responsible for the direct supervision of apprentices within his organization. Martin studied mechanical engineering technology and has achieved gold seal certification in project management with the Canadian Construction Association.