FOR TRINITY MEHLHAFF, SKILLED TRADES YOUTH AMBASSADOR FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE REPAI R INDUSTRY, THE TRADES ARE ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNIT Y TO MAKE YOURSELF BIG
BY SARAH PERKINS
In May, the Alberta government implemented an Advisory Council of Skilled Trades Youth Ambassadors as one strategy to help expose more young people in the province to the opportunities of the trades while also seeking to amplify the voices of youth looking to make a start in apprenticeships.
The program intends to help provide apprentices and interested youth with a gobetween so that concerns and questions about the trades can be more easily raised with the right government offi cials. The province’s twelve youth ambassadors—one per skilled trades category—were nominated by their postsecondary institution based on performance excellence on their apprenticeship path, with each ambassador set to serve a six-month term. Bodyworx Professional recently had the opportunity to sit down with Trinity Mehlhaff, youth trades ambassador for automotive repair from Taber, Alberta, to learn more about the role as well as why, when it comes to the automotive industry, it’s important to learn that you can “always make yourself big.”
Bodyworx Professional: In your own words, can you describe the Skilled Trades Youth Ambassador program?
Trinity Mehlhaff: The Skilled Trades Youth Ambassador program is a kind of fellowship of tradespeople all sharing their experiences within their own trades. It’s a bridge between the Alberta government and youth in trades. As an ambassador, I point out upcoming challenges and opportunities within automotive industry-related apprenticeships. We have regular meetings where we can share any important details related to our specifi c trade.
BP: How did you learn about the program and how were you chosen for the role?
TM: I attended the pre-employment automotive course at Lethbridge College. I was in the mechanics shop at the college training for my first year attending Skills Alberta when my teacher, Eric, got an email about the program. He and my other teacher Dave elected me to be a part of the program and then I was chosen based on academic performance.
BP: How will the program benefit the province?
TM: I believe that the program will help benefit the province in terms of introducing more young people to the opportunities of the trades. Through this program, we, as youth, can voice upcoming challenges within our trade and can bring awareness to what is needed to bring new passion to the industry. I’m hoping to be able to introduce more youth to the opportunities that the trade can offer, the new skills that can be learned and bring new voices to the table.
BP: Why did you choose to enter the automotive repair industry? What has been your biggest accomplishment in the industry so far and what are your goals within the industry for the future?
TM: I’ve been working on vehicles for numerous years now and I’ve always had a passion for it. As a result, the automotive industry just suited me to a T. I have a Nissan 300zx drift car and a second-generation Cummins, and whenever I have spare time, I’m always tinkering on one of my vehicles at home.
My biggest accomplishment so far has been participating in Skills Alberta. This year was the first time I had heard about the competition and now, I wish I could compete again; unfortunately, I’ve aged out, but it was very cool to get to see so much of the industry competing on such a large scale.
Currently, my goal for the future is to get into diesel repair. I drive a diesel truck and I just think that combustion engines are super cool. Even with the transition to electric vehicles on the horizon, I think that there is value in being able to understand the foundations of how combustion engines function.
BP: What do you love most about cars?
TM: I genuinely love everything about cars. I love the sounds and looks of vehicles; I even love their smell, except for differential fluid that is.
I do barrel racing and compete in competitions across Canada. I’ve been riding horses for 15 years and find that while horses and vehicles are obviously different, the thrill of working with both is similar.
BP: How can young people benefit from the trades and the automotive industry?
TM: There are so many ways that young people can benefit from the trades and the automotive industry. From a practical perspective, you can learn to fix your own vehicle and save some money in the process, but also, when you work in the trades and the automotive trades especially, you get to learn new things constantly. The skill sets you learn also present huge gateway opportunities and there’s lots of room to transition and grow based on your interests.
BP: What advice would you give to young people who are looking to get a start in the automotive trades?
TM: My main advice would be to avoid getting discouraged. The automotive industry has traditionally been a male-dominated space and as a young woman who’s also five feet tall, I’m not the typical person you think of when someone imagines an auto repairer. However, I’ve found that you can always find ways to make yourself big—both physically and mentally.
Physically, auto snipes are my best friends, but mentally, I think it’s important to keep reminding yourself that at the end of the day, if it’s something you’re interested in, just go for it. The automotive industry is a very welcoming environment, and you can learn so many things from the people you meet along the way. My mind is constantly growing from being in the trades and I’m loving the journey.
