International Brotherhood Of Boilermakers Local 146 Calgary

Sparks were flying this weekend as Calgary Boilermakers Lodge 146 proudly hosted the 11th Annual Calgary and Surrounding Areas High School Weld Rodeo! 🔥

Eight schools went head-to-head, each bringing a team of four students, all embracing this year’s creative theme: *Welder of Oz*, inspired by *Wicked*. The talent and imagination on display were outstanding.

Teams were challenged to follow a detailed blueprint to fabricate Dorothy’s farmhouse—fitting, welding, and leak testing their builds by filling them with water. Judging focused on weld size, appearance, and overall fabrication quality. On top of that, students dug through scrap piles to create sculptures inspired by the movie, with some teams even incorporating moving parts—impressive craftsmanship and creativity all around.

To test individual skill, one welder from each team completed a mock CWB 1GF plate, which was then put through a destructive bend test.

The level of detail, effort, and pride in workmanship was evident in every project. These students are a strong representation of the future of the trades.

A huge thank you to all the participants, the dedicated teachers who put in countless hours preparing their teams, the many sponsors for their generous support, and the parents who came out to cheer them on.

And a special thank you to the Boilermakers staff and members who volunteered their Saturday to make this incredible event possible.


Photo credit: Sister Hailey McDonald

Huge congratulations to Griffin W on earning his Alberta B-Pressure ticket! 👏🔥

From a successful UTIP C-Pressure graduate to achieving this major milestone, Griffin has shown what can be accomplished through relentless practice, determination, and dedication to the craft. This didn’t happen overnight—this is the result of putting in the hours, pushing through challenges, and always striving to be better.

Griffin represents exactly what our trade is all about, and his work ethic speaks volumes about the strong future ahead for the Boilermakers Union.

Proud moment—keep raising the bar! 💪

Over the last four months, we’ve had the privilege of running two full classes of eight students each through the final UTIP Canadian Pressure Welding Program — and what a success it’s been.

Sixteen dedicated Boilermakers — a strong mix of apprentices and journeymen — committed themselves to sharpening their skills and raising the bar. The results speak for themselves:

🔥 11 new pressure welders
🔥 Multiple small bore tickets achieved, including F3/F4, F6/F4, and F6/F5
🔥 All candidates earned their CWB all-position welding tickets

This wasn’t just about tickets — it was about growth, discipline, and pride in the craft. Every one of these welders walked away stronger, more confident, and better prepared to represent our trade.

A huge thank you to the students who showed up, put in the work, and honed their welding skills. You are the future of our union, and the future looks strong.

And a special thank you to instructors Alexandre Kogay and Nathan Fleming for their leadership, mentorship, and commitment to excellence. Your guidance continues to build highly skilled welders who uphold the standard of our Brotherhood.

Proud of every one of you. 👊🔥

Garnet, a participant in (UTIP)The Canadian Pressure Welding program, has achieved Journeyman Welder status after successfully completing his technical training at SAIT, and is congratulated as the newest B-Pressure Welder with Calgary Boilermakers 146, standing out as the only successful candidate among five journeymen welders testing, thanks to his union training.

🔥 Congratulations to Sister Boilermaker Sandiso! 🔥

Please join us in congratulating Sister Sandiso on achieving her B-Pressure ticket after successfully completing the Canadian Pressure Welder Course (UTIP).

On top of that incredible accomplishment, Sandiso has also earned Top 3rd Year Welder Apprentice in Alberta with Boilermakers Lodge 146 — a true testament to her hard work, skill, and dedication to the trade.

We are incredibly proud to see our sisters raising the bar, leading by example, and strengthening our Brotherhood and Sisterhood every step of the way.

👏🔥 Keep forging ahead, Sandiso — the future is bright! 🔥👏

Great shot done at SAIT featuring one of our own. Shot by Brother Matt Wi***es