When Dallas Fletcher first signed up for Lakeland College’s street rod technologies (SRT) program, he expected to learn more about restoring vehicles.

What he didn’t expect was that the experience would also become a shared project with his father — and a highlight in both of their lives.

Dallas and his father Douglas Fletcher completed all six weekend workshops in the SRT continuing education program together this year, earning their SRT certificates side-by-side at Lakeland’s County Energy Park location near Lloydminster. The workshops focus on the restoration of classic and custom vehicles, including bodywork, metal shaping and painting fundamentals.

The pair, who live roughly halfway between Wainwright and Vermilion, say a shared interest in vehicles and hands-on work made the decision to take the program together an easy one.

“We both love working on vehicles,” Dallas says. “But a lot of it was overwhelming when you don’t know how to do it right away. It was actually my dad that brought (the SRT program) up. He asked if I’d take it with him. I said absolutely.”

For Douglas, the appeal was learning something entirely new.

“I found it real interesting because I’d never done any body work before,” Douglas says. “Learning about steel and its strengths and things like that were really interesting.”

While the program introduced new technical skills, it also gave the father and son a rare opportunity to spend focused time together — something both say is often difficult with work and daily life.

Douglas continues to farm full time, while Dallas works full time as a journeyman welder. That shared busy schedule means their time together is limited.

“It’s one of those passions you don’t spend as much time doing as you’d like,” Dallas says. “But you’ve got to know where to start and how to do it right, so you don’t wreck more things than are already wrecked.”

That sense of learning from the ground up was one of the most valuable parts of the program for him.

Despite his welding background, Dallas says he quickly realized automotive restoration required a different mindset and credits the instructors for helping guide that learning curve.

“The two instructors were fantastic to work with,” he says. “They spent time with you when you needed it. I really had a good time doing it. I learned lots of things and I found they explained it from the ground up.”

“They had time to spend with you and show you,” Douglas agrees. “And if you didn’t get it, they showed you again. I really enjoyed them.”

The programs changed the way he looks at vehicles altogether, Dallas adds.

“Even now I look at panels differently because I understand how and why they were formed,” Dallas says. “It gives you a deeper insight into it.”

For Douglas, the program offered both technical discovery and a chance to learn alongside his son.

“It was nice to have a little help once in a while,” he says with a laugh.

Dallas agrees, describing the experience as a natural fit between them. Any challenges that come up during the workshops were part of the experience rather than a setback.

“It was always that sounding board to bounce things off of,” Dallas says. “We’ve worked with each other for years. It was easy to move into the shop and do the practical stuff together. Anytime you can spend time together doing something you mutually enjoy, it’s not even work. It’s just fun.”