The CWB Association Welding Podcast
The CWB Association brings you a weekly podcast that covers what’s happening in the world of Welding. We speak to people passionate about the world of Welding and fabrication. Get the right tips and industry information to stay on top of what’s happening in the Welding industry.
The CWB Association Welding Podcast
Skills Canada Series - Season 4 - Episode 3 with Lucas Stang & Ken Heather
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The CWB Association is proud to continue our collaboration with Skills/Compétences Canada on this special podcast series, where we will highlight the training, passion, and dedication, showcasing the road to WorldSkills Team Canada from the competitors, trainers, experts, and everyone involved as they prepare to head to the World Skills Competition in Shanghai, China, on September 22-27, 2026.
After winning gold at the Skills Canada National Competition 2025 in Regina, Lucas Stang is preparing to represent Canada in Welding at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026. In this episode, Lucas shares how a farmhand job introduced him to welding, what inspired him to pursue the trade as a career, and the journey that took him from the shop floor to the world stage. Joining him is Team Canada Expert Ken Heather, a welder with 47 years of industry experience and more than two decades as a welding instructor. With six WorldSkills competitions as an Expert, Ken offers valuable insight into preparing competitors for international competition and the impact the Skills movement has had on his career.
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Welcome And Series Mission
SPEAKER_01Welcome to the CWB Association Welding Podcast. I'm your host, Kevin Wat. Let's flip up the lid and spark some conversation. Welcome to the CWB Association Welding Podcast. We are proud to continue our collaborations with Skills Competence Canada on this special podcast series where we will be highlighting the training, the passion, dedication behind the road to Team Canada from the competitors, trainers, experts, and everyone involved as they prepare to head to World Skills Competition in Shanghai, China. Today will be an exciting conversation as we discuss welding, my favorite subject, uh, with Team Canada competitor Lucas Stang and Team Canada expert Ken Heather. How you guys doing?
Lucas Finds Welding On The Farm
SPEAKER_01Excellent. So, Lucas, what was it about welding that uh sparked your interest, so to speak, uh over other trades?
SPEAKER_02Well, there it there wasn't really anything that I don't know, jumped out I guess.
SPEAKER_03I I will started when I was fifteen and I just was went to work as a farmhand and ended up building these big uh liquid fertilizer wagons and I started welling on 'em and I enjoyed it so and I was still uh still I still am pretty young, so I decided I might as well just go get my ticket, and that's kind of just where it all started. I just didn't really know what I I didn't really have any plan and what I wanted to do, so I figured I might as well just do something.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's so welding kind of fell into your lap, so to speak.
Ken’s 40 Plus Years In Trade
SPEAKER_01So Ken, we'll switch to you. Yeah, um, you've got quite the history in welding. Uh I've seen you at a lot of events. Um, so how long have you been in the welding industry?
SPEAKER_04Well, I I actually took welding in high school. Um, and uh I I you know really enjoyed it and and I had a I had a great teacher, and um, you know, he said, you know, it'd be a great trade. And um, so I left, graduated from high school, and literally started an apprenticeship kind of two months later, and uh been involved in many facets ever since.
SPEAKER_01And uh I don't want to date you here, but how long ago was this? How much experience do you have?
SPEAKER_04Well, I graduated in in 76, so you do the math.
SPEAKER_01That's uh that's 40 some. I'm not that good at math. You're over 40 years of experience in the trade?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, pretty much, yep.
SPEAKER_01Wow. So at what point did you switch to uh being an instructor of welding? Because you've been doing that for a while as well.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, uh again, uh back in in 96, well, before 96, I I I was born and raised in Edmonton, and I had an opportunity to teach some night classes in Edmonton and uh with the Edmonton Public School Board. And so I did that for a couple of winters, and um I really liked it. Uh what I found was um the vast uh amount of different backgrounds people wanted to learn to weld. It was it was just amazing. Um, the one example I always go to is I had a gentleman that wanted to learn to TIG weld. Uh, he wanted to build his own plane. And he knew he knew he should be using aluminum for like and I okay, right. So I I you know I set up everything and and I get them started, and you know, I do a demo and he lifts his helmet and he goes, Well, that's just like what I do at work all day. And I kind of go, Well, what do you do at work? Well, I I work at the Charles Cample uh cancer clinic and I burn cancer cells with a torch, much like that.
SPEAKER_01Wow, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_04And I went, Oh, okay. So actually, funny story. Um, I did actually make contact with that gentleman many years later, and he did actually build a plane, he had pictures, and it actually flew. So I feel a little proud about that, you know, he had a passion, and yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I would too. You you taught somebody how to weld and he was able to fly.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, yeah. So yeah, so that's kind of one of the reasons that I thought, well, if I ever had a chance to do it full time, I I thought I'd like to try that. And yeah, uh, Red Deer College came along and yeah, I was there for uh 26 years.
SPEAKER_01So over that 26 years, what uh what keeps you motivated to to go back every day and and teach?
SPEAKER_04Well, uh I I retired four years ago, so so I I don't go back, but during that time, uh the passion was is to watch apprentices build their passion and get better at what they do. And and it is amazing. It it's to watch uh where they start out and and where they become. Um, you know, I've had I I did account, you know, thousands of students, and you see them and you hear from them and and you see where they are today. Um, and it's all because of a trait. And that was the thing that I learned that the base of the trait, like being a journeyman, is one level, the opportunities beyond that is literally it's up to you. It it really is. And and I'm here to say that if somebody would have told me when I was 19 and I started of the opportunities that I got because of a trade, I I would never have believed them.
SPEAKER_01Ah, that's
Full Time Training For WorldSkills
SPEAKER_01so true. So, Lucas, you're still welding now. You work you work at a shop welding, is that correct?
SPEAKER_02Uh no, I haven't been working since August. Oh, really? Yeah. So ahead.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I'm just training full time at Red Deer Polytechnic. So how many hours during the day do you train?
SPEAKER_01So since September you've been training full time.
SPEAKER_03Usually about eight hours. Oh wow. A couple more or less some days, depending on how stuff's going.
SPEAKER_02So when did you first um get involved with skills?
SPEAKER_03Last year in yeah, last year was my first year in skills, and I competed in so I went to provincials and then won that, and then went to nationals and won that, and then got the world spot. So I haven't really I haven't been in it very long at all. I just kinda yeah.
SPEAKER_01So you're pretty fresh in it. Yeah, I think I remember you last year in Regina, you took first place in welding, is that correct?
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Well, good job, man. It kind of seems like you're a bit of a natural. I don't know, it's just practice. Yeah, that's true.
SPEAKER_04Dedication he's be he's he's being a bit modest. He he has some incredible skills that uh he's honing uh even better, but uh he had he had very high level skills coming in.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, from from when you were working. Yeah. Um, so winning gold and you know all the accolades that come with
Treat Every Weld Like A Test
SPEAKER_01that. Um I guess what's one key takeaway that you have from from last year's competition?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I didn't really there wasn't any any big struggles other than well a couple little things, I suppose, when I was welding, but I felt pretty prepared. There wasn't I didn't mess up big on anything.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so going into the world's competition, what's kind of the the skills or the mindset that you're gonna carry to to that competition?
SPEAKER_03I think the mindset is I'm just gonna treat it like another day. Just I'm just going to to weld and have fun, like I always do. It's just it's just in a different place. There's nothing new about it. And I'll just be the best I in the these last three months we have here. I'm gonna try my best to get everything as perfect as I can possibly get it. And when I go to China, I'm not gonna worry about I'm not gonna worry about it anymore because there's nothing else I can do. I'm not gonna be able to change it when I'm there, so I'm just gonna go have fun.
SPEAKER_01That's actually a really cool mindset to just treat it like any other day. I always tell people, you know, like weld testing. When you're a welder, you're gonna be testing all the time. And like if you treat every day like it's a test day, or you treat every weld like it's a a test, then when test day comes, it's like any other day, right? Uh yeah, exactly.
SPEAKER_03I mean, that's every weld I do is a test, really. And like I just did my B pressure a couple weeks ago, and I mean it was easy. It was just like I was practicing pipe like normal. I just welded it up and it was all good, and nothing opened up. It was there's nothing wrong with it. I just went and had fun.
SPEAKER_01Sweet. I think more people need to have that mind state. You know, I I've got a friend who also tried to go get his pressure ticket, and it it was it was exactly the nerves I got to him. So, Ken, with this mind state that Lucas already has, like what kind of tools or what kind of things are you working uh with him towards?
What Makes An Elite Competitor
SPEAKER_04Well, I I think he's already spoken very well about uh the preparation of going to any competition, but in this particular one where it's you know the highest level. Um you know, uh all of us around him uh are are helping and giving feedback and that. But at the end of the day, as we all know as well, there's it's it's us and the weld. And and to be able to go into that booth and and be fully prepared of the expectation and and uh knowing uh what what's about to happen, uh the more times that Lucas goes through that preparation, the more he'll be ready. And uh he's showing that that that's working.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So what separates a good welder from a good competitor?
SPEAKER_04I I don't know if there is a separation there, actually. Um, because they go hand in hand. If you're not a good welder, you probably won't be a good competitor. Um, and I think uh first and foremost, uh any competitor, it's it's their approach, their mindset, and yes, their their skill level for sure. But if you don't have the mindset and the proper approach, uh the skill level will get you so far, but it won't get you to the top.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's very true. So, Ken, what makes then what makes Canada um or Canada's welding program or what you guys are doing, what makes that stand out from the rest of the world?
SPEAKER_04The commitment uh that the competitors have put forward, um the time and effort to say I want to get as good as possible to get um is is huge. Without that that time commitment, um I what happens is that you become an also ran. Um at that elite level at the world, there's about six countries that are are players, if I if I can say it right. And uh and and the margins are very close, right? Um I I always use it kind of like uh if we looked at uh the eight guys that line up on the line for the gold medal in the hundred meters, any one of those eight guys can win that gold medal. Uh they've all trained the same, they've all got the same uh passion, and but it's it's who rises to the top at that particular day because you can line those same eight guys up the next day, and somebody else might win. So, so this is where getting prepared for that moment and peaking at the right time is crucial to be in the top.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and we all know, like you've judged competitions before, is that right, Ken?
SPEAKER_04Yes, many.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. So I guess we both know that there could be a fraction of a point separating first and second place, and then a fraction more separating third.
SPEAKER_04For sure. And and in fact, um, you know, the last three uh worlds have literally been within half marks.
SPEAKER_01That is crazy.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01I mean, everyone who competes with these things, like if now you're separating by half marks, like even if you don't get first, you still you're competing at an elite level, like you mentioned.
SPEAKER_04Well, and and like you say, there is a possibility that uh the way the world skills does their scoring structure, there is a possibility to actually have more than than than one gold. Uh it's it's it it's unlikely it doesn't happen much, but it does. And and we we had you know three bronzes in in uh Lyon. So the that's how the market it's uh one of the things that's a bit unique, it's not necessarily going against the competitor, it's going against the marks. So that's where again having the mindset that I'm just competing against myself to get the most marks really goes a long way.
SPEAKER_01Yeah,
Adapting When The Unexpected Hits
SPEAKER_01that's right. So, Lucas, you're confident in your skills. Is there something that sticks with you in the back of your mind? Like what part of you do you feel is, let's say, you know, weak in competition?
SPEAKER_03That's a good question.
SPEAKER_01I haven't really thought about he's just that good, ladies and gentlemen.
SPEAKER_04No, but I was waiting for what he was gonna say because I was gonna write it down. But the one of the things that you know we we try to to help out with is that the uh there's always the unknown, there's always something that's gonna happen, right? Uh it's a four-day competition, and and and we try to make sure we have thought of everything and worked out all the wrinkles and all that, but one of the things is always be able to uh accept you know what you can't change. Um, and there's been issues that you know it's none of the competitor's fault or whatever, but something happens that we have to literally adapt on the fly. And and that's big, you know, you've got to be prepared that something may may happen, and that and that needs to be part of the training.
SPEAKER_01That's for sure. I've seen you know machines go down or one machine not behave like another machine at competitions. So is there something that you guys do specifically to train for that kind of stuff? Like uh, you know, set up real roadblocks just to train?
SPEAKER_02Well, I I would say the the bigger uh part of that would be let's discuss.
SPEAKER_04Um, because it is hard to really you know reenact something that can go sideways. Uh, but it's the type of thing where just knowing that I always say if if something happens, let's say uh a piece doesn't fit, or let's say we don't have a certain product, well, one thing that we do at the world for sure is that we make sure it's fair to for everybody. So either we remove the obstacle that everybody, or we say, well, in this particular, these marks would be awarded. So we don't we don't try to penalize anybody, but it's one of those things that uh I'll just give you an example. What happened in Lyon was um, as you can well imagine, power is important to welding. And uh we have familiarization for both groups. We we do shifts, and so uh shift one came in and had their two hours and worked on everything, and everything was fine. And then when shift two came in, uh the CNC, which was right across from us, had started up, and we saw an influx of power. So, you know, right away we had to get together and go, okay, tomorrow when competition starts, they're going to be running, so we know this is going to be a problem. So we had to get together and figure out okay, what's the easiest way to get around this? And so um we eliminated uh some of the flux core that was going to be used because that's where we found the biggest peaks in in amperage and voltage kind of thing. And um, you know, so what we had to do is literally that day, um, shift one had already left. We hadn't decided before shift two. Um, so we literally had to get a hold of all the competitors to say, when you come on the site, this, this, and this won't be like that. Well, I I can remember. Um, our competitor was uh a little upset that we were making changes in the middle of, but there was nothing we could do about it. And then in the end, right, but in the end, it actually benefited all of them because it eliminated a couple of little harder welts. But those are the kinds of things that you can't prepare for, but those are the kinds of things that mindset goes a long way.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, actually, I could recall it was in Quebec at Nationals where the smoke was piling up in the building and you know doors had to be opened up. Well, you open the doors, there's gonna be some wind. So the people that were closer to the doors, right? So I think there was some some uh contingency plan that happened in in that situation.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah. So yeah, you you hope you never, but it's better to recognize that if there's a wrinkle, who can adapt the best always always goes a long way.
Staying Motivated And Loving The Craft
SPEAKER_01So Lucas, with training basically full time, um is there do you ever do you ever get bored? How do you how do you keep it interesting?
SPEAKER_03Uh well I think that that's really uh keeping it interesting is really uh uh one of the big jobs for my the trainer. Like he well Lee, my trainer Lee does a he does a good job at keeping things and then always making jokes, and that's probably that's the biggest thing to keep it interesting, to keep it a place that I want to be. But I I still enjoy most well, yeah, I still enjoy welding every day and what I do and I think I've actually started enjoying it more as I get better at it because this the stuff I can produce is a lot of it's like it's really nice to look at it. Just some of it's really pretty and it's just I'd love I like doing it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's really cool because like you you said earlier, it's like your weld is is like your signature, so it might as well be a pretty signature. Do you ever use now that you have you know this this high level of skill, do you ever use that to to make anything, any projects for yourself?
SPEAKER_03I mean I've done a couple things, but I I wouldn't really stay using this skill that I've learned. This little couple things I've done have been pretty basic. I haven't really but I plan on I plan on doing some like stainless TIG art and stuff once I'm done this. I think that'd be fun to do.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's cool, man. So Lucas, what does it mean to you to wear, you know, the maple leaf on your shirt and represent Canada at at world skills?
Wearing The Maple Leaf With Pride
SPEAKER_03Uh it definitely means a lot. I'm it's an honor to represent Canada. I never I mean, uh two years ago I never would have dreamt that I That's great.
Why Tradespeople Should Volunteer
SPEAKER_01So Ken, you've spent many years volunteering for Skills Canada. Um why do you think that other tradespeople should consider getting involved in a in a volunteer role?
SPEAKER_04Well, first of all, if if they're passionate about their trade, I I I go, well, it's a no-brainer. Um, and uh and I think especially now when um you know we're desperately you know trying to get young people involved in any trade. Um and if you're passionate about it and and you want to you know make sure somebody has a good experience or somebody uh you know is is just wondering, well, do I really want to do this? Well, it's your experience that you're passing on. You know, you're you know, sure, every job, and and you know, we all have worn different hats, and every job has peaks and valleys. But uh I I think if you're passionate about your trade and and you want uh people to understand what you do, uh getting involved with uh, you know, Skills Canada organizations to bring that to young people in the country is uh yeah, to me, it it was uh automatic once uh we had uh we had our provincial and national competition in Red Gear in '97. And they came to the to the college looking for people to help out. And I went, there's an organization that promotes trades and technologies to young people in this country. Well, I think I should be involved. And yeah, here we are 30 years later, kind of thing. Um, so I I just look at uh around like our provincial committee and our national committee and and even the international committee, it's the passionate people that are there. Um, they love their trade, they they love uh being with people and teaching people and and and also enlightening uh the general public too, right? Uh there's still unfortunately a lot of people out there that have no idea um how anything's made, or you know, um, and and the more we can educate the general public as tradespeople, then we get a better understanding of in the in the community.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, all great points. Every time I go to an event and I'm getting more and more involved with it, uh it just amazes me the people that are there, how passionate they are, everyone that's doing you know, it doesn't even matter what you're doing there. If you get to see or experience, you know, a Skills Competence Canada event, it's just it's insane. It opens my mind and and and my eyes so much every time.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So, Lucas, what is something that you hope you instill in like the next generation of of young people?
SPEAKER_03I hope that I can inspire them, see what I've done, and realize that I'm nothing, I'm nobody special, and they if they put in the work, they could do the same thing. I was just a never kid, no clue this was gonna happen, and and then somehow it did, and I worked for it and it's turned out great.
SPEAKER_01That is a great example, man. So what is what's your favorite part of these competitions? What do you what do you when you walk away from a competition, what are you still thinking about? It's all fun really.
SPEAKER_03It's I mean, I guess favorite part of provincials and nationals was being up on stage getting the medal, but it's it's everything's it's all fun, it's all a good time. And now you get to see the world. You're going to China. Yeah, it's gonna be that's gonna be cool. I've never really I've never been anywhere. My first time on a that I can actually remember is going to regina.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, beautiful Regina. Well, that's crazy. From from literally, you know, welding, being a farmhand, welding, and then finding skills, you know, two years ago, and now you're going to China. Like it's a it's a great story, it's kind of an inspiring. Yeah. A wild ride.
Where Welding Could Take Lucas
SPEAKER_01So Lucas, where do you hope welding will take you after this competition?
SPEAKER_03I haven't really thought too much about it. I'm really just focused on my training right now. But I'm hoping that I think I'd like to teach one day, but with this training that I have, I'll be able to I think I'd like to do some sort of specialty alloy stuff. Something that's something that I can actually use these skills that I've learnt. And something clean.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's you know, that's every welder's dream, I guess, to to work on the high ILO stuff and not have to be crawling through grease all day, every day, that's for sure. Lucas, do you see yourself um uh training other competitors? Do you see yourself in a position like Ken one day?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I I think I do. I think I kind of help out a bit. I enjoy it. I think I'll I think I'd like to teach one day, and I definitely if I definitely like to have my own skill student.
SPEAKER_01That'd be that'd be fun. Yeah, that's awesome, Lucas. That's a great example. So Ken, what do you look forward to the most about this world skills competition?
SPEAKER_04Well, I I I would say all of them that I've been to and had the opportunity, I I always look forward to uh the experience that these competitors have. Um it changes it's changing, it's life-changing. Um uh for some of them, like Lucas, you know, uh, may have not traveled very much. Uh, so they get to experience a different culture, a different, you know, way of life and things. Um and also the friendships, um uh many of them stay connected. Uh like Luke is saying, they they start to show up at competitions and things, and they um, you know, so so it's uh it's if I can use the corny, uh, you know, it's the welding community, literally. Um I get to work with 44 experts from around the world. Uh I get to know other competitors from around the world, and and just to watch the passion, just to watch them go and do their thing, it is amazing. Um, yeah, the the public, you know, are always around and want, but watching it from the inside, it's it's pretty cool.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I agree. I've been part of a few so far, and they they actually let me go behind the scenes last year in Regina, maybe just because I'm from here. And uh it was it was absolutely insane. I was so happy to be part of
Ken’s Favourite Welding Memories
SPEAKER_01it. Before we uh we sign off here tonight, is there a thought or a story or a cool welding memory that you have that you want to share with us?
SPEAKER_04I I always found that um, you know, making making life fun uh in some you know, some pretty hard places to do welding and things, and finding the the passion of, okay, yeah, it's not a great spot and and you know, why do I have to do this? But to go in and go, yeah, I can do it, right? And and make it in your head that okay, I have the skill, I can do this, and I want to go in and do a good job and and have some laughs along the way. Um yeah, I I think any job, uh, you can't get real serious about it. Um, because if you do, it'll probably beat you up. And uh and welding is uh is a fascinating thing, you know. Uh even uh an old you know goat like myself, uh you know, I can't walk by places without looking at welds, right?
SPEAKER_01It's like the gift and the curse.
SPEAKER_04And the curse. And and I use this as an example, and and I tell a lot of people this. Um if you've been on the uh gondola at Sunshine uh village, you know, all those cars are all aluminum, right? And if you get into one of those cars, there's eight people and you're one of them, and it's a long ride. And if you looking around, somebody goes, you know, what are you looking at? And I, you know, you go, Well, some of these welds aren't very good. Well, right now you've got seven other welding inspectors, right now. So that's the fun part about welding is that you can point it out, and all of a sudden somebody can judge how good it is or not. So so that's my fun story of how uh you can uh you can get people enthused in in riding in a car that you don't think is put together very well.
SPEAKER_01What a weird time to bring that up here. That weld does not look good.
Thanks, Shanghai Wishes, And Sign Off
SPEAKER_01Well, thank you. Thank you very much, guys, for uh being my guest today. And uh thank you everyone for tuning in to the CWB Association Welding Podcast and our special series in collaboration with Skills Competence Canada. We will be wishing all of Team Canada the best and cheering you guys on as you go to Shanghai, China. So thank you very much, guys, for uh sticking with me tonight or today, sorry.
SPEAKER_04Thanks for having us, Kevin. It was great.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Yeah, thank you. It was fun. Thank you. And of course, be sure to follow the podcast uh on your favorite streaming platform as we continue to showcase the incredible uh individuals who will represent uh Team Canada at WorldSkills. Thank you.