Moulding a passionate career

As work dwindled as a sculptor, this Styrofoam and metal artisan laid to rest her carving sets, rasps and other tools required to fulfil her duties and turned a passion into a career.

Considering the necessary skill set to build props, Ricki McCance, a native of Calgary, already had an understanding of the array of tools found in a fabrication shop. What McCance wanted to improve on was her metal manipulating, and then gear her skills towards the automotive industry.

“I’ve been working with similar processes (found in a fabrication shop) as a sculptor. What I wanted to learn about and experience was the larger equipment used in automotive fabrication,” says McCance. 

And that’s exactly what she did as a student in Lakeland College’s street rod technologies (SRT) program. 

“I learned a lot here at Lakeland; not only the various techniques but also the different processes. I now have a stronger understanding of how metal works.”

Learning the intricacies of metal is important, says McCance, who tasked herself with building a front fenders and a petrol tank for her 1974 Harley Davidson Sportster two wheels of steel. The traits of metal are just one of the many things she learned during the program.

“Before, I would bang around on a piece of metal until I got what I wanted. Now, I’ve learned there’s so much more to it than that. The learning process has been rewarding and has given me so much confidence,” adds McCance.

She says students are spoiled with the quantity and quality of the tools available. And instructors Stuart Ribey and Matt Newman are real spark plugs. “They come to the classroom and shop every day more than willing to teach and offer assistance. And they each have a broad range of experience and knowledge that complement one another.

“From what I’ve researched, no other program across Canada can compete with Lakeland’s SRT,” she adds. “Plus, being able to work on your own vehicle as a class project is a huge bonus.”

McCance has since returned home to Calgary where she is putting her freshly honed skills to use working on her personal projects and offers a hand to her father when needed.

SRT is a one-year certificate program offered at Lakeland’s new property just west of Lloydminster in County Energy Park.

Photo: Ricki McCance works the edges of a fender for her 1974 Harley Davidson Sportster. Being able to work on a personal project is one of the many highlights in SRT for this Calgary, Alta., native.