Trades
Two divisions.
One local.
Local 397 represents sheet metal workers and roofers across Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario — sheet metal is a compulsory Red Seal trade. Here’s what the work covers, from the shop floor to the field to the roof.
01
Sheet Metal Worker
The core of the local. A compulsory Red Seal trade (Ontario 308A) — layout, fabrication and installation of ductwork, fittings and metal products, in the shop and in the field.
Sheet metal workers lay out, fabricate, assemble, install and repair sheet metal products and systems — from HVAC ductwork and fittings to architectural metalwork and custom fabrication. The work splits between shop fabrication and field installation, and a journeyperson moves between both.
The work runs from reading drawings and developing patterns, through cutting, bending and forming on shears, press brakes, rolls and CNC equipment, to welding, sheeting and decking, installation and quality inspection on site. Materials include black iron, galvanized and stainless steel, aluminum and copper.
It's an indoor and outdoor trade, sometimes at heights, with strong industrial and resource-sector work across Northwestern Ontario — mining, pulp and paper, and major builds. Skilled journeypersons advance into layout, design, estimating, supervisory roles — and ownership.
Indicative wages (contact the hall to confirm): sheet metal apprentices start around $24.17/hr and a journeyperson earns about $48.16/hr — plus vacation pay, benefits and pension. Experienced workers start higher.
02
HVAC & Service
Ductwork installation, balancing and service of ventilation systems on residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
HVAC and service work covers the installation of ductwork and ventilation systems and the testing, balancing and servicing that keep them running on residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
It's a precise, systems-minded side of the trade — measuring airflow, balancing systems to spec, and troubleshooting and maintaining mechanical equipment long after the building is built. Industrial ventilation is part of the work.
03
Architectural Sheet Metal & Cladding
Architectural sheet metal, custom metal work, flashing, cladding and roofing metals on commercial and institutional buildings.
Architectural sheet metal puts the trade on the outside of the building — metal wall cladding and panels, flashings, copings, roofing metals and custom architectural metalwork on commercial and institutional projects.
It demands tight layout, clean fabrication and careful installation, often at height and in weather. The same skills carry over into industrial ventilation and other specialty metal work the trade takes on.
04
Roofing
The local's second division — flat and built-up roofing on commercial, institutional and industrial buildings. A voluntary trade, with seasonal and apprenticeship entry.
Local 397 is a roofers' local as much as a sheet metal local. The roofing division installs and repairs flat and built-up roofing systems on commercial, institutional and industrial buildings — sealing the envelope that the sheet metal side tops with flashings and roofing metals.
Flat roofing is a voluntary trade in Ontario, with the Thunder Bay Roofing Apprenticeship Council holding the apprenticeship contracts. It's an outdoor, weather-driven and often seasonal trade — and a strong way into the local. No experience is needed; all safety training is provided.
Indicative wages (contact the hall to confirm): roofing apprentices start around $24.94/hr and a journeyperson earns up to about $41.99/hr — plus vacation pay, benefits and pension. Experienced workers start higher.
Learn the trade
Apprenticeship
Sheet metal is a compulsory Red Seal trade — about 9,000 hours plus three 8-week in-school blocks at the OSMWTC in Oakville, earn while you learn. Roofing apprentices enter through the Thunder Bay Roofing Apprenticeship Council.
Hire union
Contractor enquiries
Dispatch and project staffing. To join, drop a résumé at the hall (1135 Roland Street) or email sheetmetal397@tbaytel.net — no experience needed, all training provided.