PALS En Route to Success welcomes Atlantic Wallboard as a partner for a second time by providing a work experience placement for high school student Tim Beck who is in grade 12 at St. Malachy's Memorial High School, in Saint John, New Brunswick.   

Atlantic Wallboard is a highly automated J.D. Irving, Limited company that provides a broad range of gypsum wallboard products for use in the construction industry. 

Under the watchful eye of his workplace mentors, Josiah Wilcox and Alan Pizzey, Tim has been exposed to the state-of-the-art “green” gypsum wallboard manufacturing facility. He is gaining valuable work experience while learning some job specific skills. 

During Tim’s work placement this semester, he has learned to work with a variety of basic tools, including how to operate a grinder and use hydraulic and drill presses, while assisting the maintenance department with a variety of projects. Specific skills Tim has learned so far include how to calculate RPM for machine processes and how to setup an oxy-acetylene torch for cutting steel. 

The entire team at Atlantic Wallboard has been making this work experience one that is hands-on and experiential. The success of a PALS En Route to Success placement is very dependent on the team at the worksite and their enthusiasm and willingness to work with a student.  

As one of several workplaces participating in the PALS En Route to Success program, Atlantic Wallboard is a great example of how a work site, partnering with a student from PALS En Route to Success, can make a positive difference in the life of a student.