Bricklayers are in great demand in Calgary as many of the experienced tradesmen are set to retire.

Double Take -- by Mark Sproxton

Click, click, click, click, click.... Standing on scaffolding outside a makeshift plastic and wood frame "hot house" the bricklayer hammers away at some bricks from an old warehouse. The temperature hovers around -5 C but the work has to go on. The old bricks have to be removed for re-modelling and new brick work will have to later be added.

There are many trips up and down the scaffolding. The work is heavy no matter the time of year. Ron Thibeault, who has 42 years in the trade, said there's no point trying to hide that fact the work isn't easy. "It's always hard work. (You're) laying bricks and blocks and hiking up the scaffold and down the scaffold for eight hours a day. (And) it's high risk."

But the owner of Thibeault Masonry said there are many upsides of the trade too. "It's satisfying," he said. Completing a project from start to finish and being able to see the physical changes you have made to a project leaves a lasting impression, he added.

And then there's the pay. An experienced bricklayer can earn over $85,000 a year, Thibeault said. To become a bricklayer a three-year apprenticeship is required. Apprentices earn more money after completing each year of training until earning certification as a journeyman.

But are there apprenticeship opportunities available? Thibeault says they're everywhere as there is a big need for young blood in the trade. "The average age of (bricklayers) is 57," he said. Asked what anyone interested in the trade should do, Thibeault responded: "Come and see me."

These days of a busy construction environment and a shortage of workers is a far cry from when Thibeault first started as a bricklayer. "You took whatever you could get," he said. "I was a kid. I worked for a company for 18 and-a-half years, now my company is 21 years old. Plus I worked for another masonry company. I've enjoyed it all my years."

Unlike most new bricklayers, Thibeault learned the trade on the job, falling under the wing of experienced tradesmen. That training served him well. His company, which specializes in commercial and industrial building, continues to keep busy throughout the year. He said while bricklayers "hate cold weather" the work remains steady year-round. And the opportunities for those interested in the trade remain many. "I came from the bottom up," he said. "Work hard and you'll get ahead."