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Transcript: Ironworker
[Bright music plays]
A child says, WHEE!
t.v.o. kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Giggling]
[Upbeat music plays]
Gears turn on a blueprint. Text reads, T.V.O. kids presents.
A girl with black hair in short, tight braids wears a blue long-sleeved shirt. She stands beside a boy with short, curly brown hair wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt.
The two kids say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
They cross their arms and stand back to back. The brown-haired boy points to a video of the black-haired girl riding in a tractor.
The black-haired girl says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
The brown-haired boy says, AND I'M BRODY.
Akeylah, the black-haired girl, says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Videos show Akeylah and the brown-haired boy Brody trying different skilled trades.
They both say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody uses a virtual reality headset and controllers.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU!
Akeylah makes dough and rides an aerial lift.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Brody explores a greenhouse.
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES.
Together, Akeylah and Brody say, ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, a light shines in an open car engine.
Close by, Brody says, DON'T BREAK, DON'T BREAK, DON'T BREAK.
He carefully places a cardboard tube bridge with a sagging platform on the work table. Brody wears a blue, white, red and yellow striped long-sleeved shirt.
Brody says, THERE WE GO.
He looks over his shoulder toward the upper floor.
Brody says, I THINK WE'RE READY.
On the upper floor, Akeylah crouches near the railing. She wears her black hair in long, tight braids and a burgundy long-sleeved shirt.
Akeylah says, ON MY WAY!
She joins Brody at the work table.
Brody asks, DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER?
Akeylah holds up a toy truck.
She says, VOLUNTEER ACCOUNTED FOR. COMMENCE TEST?
Brody says, COMMENCE TEST.
[Drum roll]
Akeylah rolls the toy truck onto the sagging platform and into the centre.
[Disappointed trumpet]
[Akeylah groaning]
Brody groans, AHHH!
Akeylah says, ANOTHER FAIL. I GUESS IT'S...
Together, Brody and Akeylah say, …BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
Brody leans an elbow on the table and rests his chin on his fist.
He says, THERE'S GOTTA BE A SKILL TRADE WE CAN LEARN ABOUT TO HELP US FINISH THIS BRIDGE.
Anna steps out from behind the tool wall wearing a black and white plaid button-down shirt and a tool belt.
Anna says, HEY GANG.
Brody and Akeylah say, HEY ANNA!
Anna says, I'VE GOT A SUGGESTION. WHAT ABOUT IRONWORKING?
Akeylah says, THIS IS OUR FRIEND ANNA AND SHE KNOWS A TON ABOUT SKILLED TRADES.
Anna smiles and waves.
Brody asks, WHAT DOES AN IRONWORKER DO?
Anna says, IRONWORKERS BUILD THE FRAMES THAT KEEP ALL SORTS OF STRUCTURES LIKE BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES,
STANDING UP AND NOT FALLING DOWN.
Akeylah says, WE GOTTA LEARN ABOUT IRONWORKING.
Brody nods.
Anna says, WELL, YOU'RE IN LUCK 'CAUSE MY FRIEND, JAMIE, HAS BEEN AN IRONWORKER FOR 20 YEARS AND I BET SHE COULD SHOW YOU THE ROPES, OR THE CHAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO IRONWORKING.
Ironworker Jamie McMillan has long brown hair and glasses. Jamie wears a black hard hat with stickers and a yellow high-visibility jacket over a black T-shirt.
Brody says, WELL AKEYLAH, IT'S YOUR TURN.ARE YOU READY TO GO LEARN ABOUT THE SKILLED TRADE OF IRONWORKING?
Akeylah says, YOU BET, TRADES AWAY!
She waves and steps away from the table. Brody and Anna wave and watch Akeylah leave.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah walks alongside a mural of ironworkers on a job site. A logo on the mural reads, Local 721 Ontario.
Akeylah narrates, I ARRIVED AT IRONWORKERS 721, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE A CLUBHOUSE FOR IRONWORKERS.
In the Ironworkers 721 building, a person wearing a high-visibility jacket and other safety gear works with a torch on a piece of iron.
[Sizzling]
Akeylah narrates, I TRACKED DOWN JAMIE. SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING.
Akeylah walks up to Jamie, the person working, and smiles. With her burning shield raised, Jamie smiles back.
Akeylah says, HEY JAMIE!
Jamie says, HEY AKEYLAH, WELCOME!
She puts down the torch.
Akeylah asks, WHAT PART OF THE IRONWORKING TRADE IS THIS?
Jamie says, SO THIS IS CALLED FABRICATION AND TORCH CUTTING. SO BASICALLY, WE HAVE TO CUT AND DESIGN THE METAL INTO THE STRUCTURAL PIECES THAT WE NEED.
Later, in a locker room, Jamie picks up a tool belt of heavy tools. On a tall steel structure, she tightens a bolt.
Jamie narrates, IRONWORKERS CONNECT STRUCTURAL STEEL IN BIG BUILDINGS, OFTEN WORKING UP HIGH IN THE SKY.
Jamie wears a safety harness connected to a cable between cables across the structure. She walks across a narrow steel beam. In the Ironworkers 721 building, a life-size skeleton decoration sits on a bench.
[Spooky music plays]
Akeylah asks, WHO'S THIS?
She wears a hard hat and sits on one side of the skeleton. Jamie sits on the other side, wearing her hard hat.
Jamie says, THIS IS MR. BONES.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?
Jamie says, WELL, HE'S HERE TO REPRESENT WHAT IRONWORKING IS ALL ABOUT. DO YOU HAVE A SKELETON IN
YOUR BODY?
Mr. Bones’ head turns.
Mr. Bones says, YEAH, DO YOU?
Akeylah says, WELL, I HOPE SO.
Jamie says, WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SKELETON IN YOUR BODY?
Akeylah says, I'D PROBABLY BE A PILE OF GOO ON THE FLOOR.
Mr. Bones says, GROSS!
Jamie says, YEAH, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT. WELL, MR. BONES REPRESENTS THE STRUCTURAL STEEL THAT HOLDS BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES TOGETHER.
Akeylah nods and says, SO IRONWORKERS INSTALL THE BONES OF BUILDINGS!
Mr. Bones says, YEAH, THIS IS COOL AND ALL, BUT I'M NOT DOING ANY CLIMBING TODAY, AM I?
Akeylah says, NO, YOU CAN STAY HERE AND REST YOUR BONES.
Akeylah high-fives Mr. Bones.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Elsewhere in Ironworkers 721, Akeylah pulls on a large black jacket.
Akeylah narrates, I WANTED TO SEE TORCH CUTTING UP CLOSE, BUT SAFETY FIRST!
Jamie says, NEXT, YOU NEED SAFETY GLASSES. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO PROTECT YOUR EYES.
Akeylah slides on safety glasses.
Jamie says, ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE ON YOUR SAFETY GLOVES.
Akeylah wears safety gloves and gives two thumbs-up.
Jamie says, LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A HARD HAT WITH A BURNING SHIELD ALREADY ON IT.
Akeylah wears a hard hat with a burning shield covering her face.
Akeylah says, I FEEL LIKE AN ASTRONAUT.
Jamie grins.
She says, SO WHAT I DO IS I USE OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE TO CUT THROUGH THIS STEEL. THIS IS CALLED THE STRIKER, AND IT MAKES SPARKS.
Jamie lights her torch with a striker, and a bright flame emerges.
She says, ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR FLAME GOING, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TURN ON YOUR OXYGEN AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE TORCH ROARING.
Jamie turns on the oxygen. The flame narrows and turns blue.
[Torch roaring]
Akeylah says, WHOA!
Jamie says, PRETTY COOL, EH?
Akeylah says, YEAH, SO COOL.
Jamie asks, YOU READY?
Akeylah says, DEFINITELY.
Jamie lowers her burning shield to cover her face completely and holds the flame over a section of the piece of iron.
Jamie says, YOU PULL THE TRIGGER AND YOU MAKE SOME SPARKS.
She pushes a trigger on the torch handle and sparks fly off the iron.
[Sparks hissing]
[Flame roaring]
[Akeylah gasping]
Akeylah says, WHOA!
Jamie asks, CAN YOU HEAR IT ROARING?
Akeylah says, IT'S ROARING!
Jamie says, IT'S ROARING AND IT'S RED HOT.
Akeylah says, THAT IS A LOT OF SPARKS. IT'S LIKE FIREWORKS.
The sparks scatter across the floor.
Jamie says, IT SURE IS.
She cuts through the iron with the flame, and a piece falls off.
[Clanging]
Akeylah cheers, YEAH!
[Jamie laughing]
Jamie turns the torch off. Akeylah lifts her burning shield off her face.
Akeylah says, THAT WAS SO COOL. WHAT ELSE DO IRONWORKERS DO?
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, it snows on a multi-floor steel structure.
Akeylah narrates, WE WENT OUTSIDE SO JAMIE COULD SHOW ME HOW TO GET A LEG UP ON IRONWORKING.
Akeylah and Jamie walk up to a tall piece of steel.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED A COLUMN AND THIS IS A SUPPORT THAT STANDS UP VERTICALLY AND HOLDS A STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO IT DOESN'T FALL OVER NOW.
Akeylah looks at the column. She and Jamie wear their hard hats and safety glasses.
Jamie says, NOW, SOMETIMES IRONWORKERS GET TO CLIMB ON STEEL JUST LIKE MONKEY BARS. ARE YOU READY TO
TRY IT OUT?
[Akeylah exhaling]
Akeylah says OKAY, I CAN DO THIS.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GET YOU HOOKED UP.
She clips a hook to a harness on Akeylah.
Jamie says, SO I'VE GOT A HOOK ON YOUR HARNESS AND YOU'RE NICE AND SAFE. THAT'S GONNA KIND OF HELP PULL YOU UP A LITTLE BIT TOO. YOU'RE GONNA STEP UP NICE AND CLOSE.
Akeylah steps closer to the column.
Jamie says, AND YOU'RE GONNA GRAB ONE LEG, AND YOU'RE GONNA HOOK IT RIGHT INTO THE COLUMN.
Akeylah hooks her right foot between the plates of the column.
Jamie says, JUST LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE GONNA TRY AND PULL YOURSELF UP AND HOOK YOUR OTHER LEG ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
Akeylah pulls herself up the column.
Jamie says, CAN YOU GET THE OTHER LEG IN? DO THE SAME.
Akeylah hooks her left foot between the column plates on the other side.
Jamie says, GOOD JOB!
Akeylah climbs up the column.
[Akeylah laughing]
Jamie says, GOOD JOB! LINK IT IN THERE REAL NICE AND TIGHT.
Akeylah tightens her grip. Her foot slides down the column, and she looks down at Jamie.
Jamie says, YOU THINK YOU CAN GO UP ONE MORE?
Akeylah nods and says, YEAH.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT.
She holds Akeylah’s right leg in place.
Jamie says, WE'LL GET YOU.
[Akeylah laughing]
Akeylah’s left foot slips.
Jamie says, WE'LL GET YOU.
[Jamie laughing]
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, AND THEN SLIDE DOWN.
Akeylah slides down the column.
[Akeylah and Jamie laughing]
Jamie says, GOOD JOB!
Akeylah says, I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEBODY CAN CLIMB ALL THE WAY UP THERE.
Jamie says, I KNOW A GUY WHO CAN CLIMB ALL THE WAY UP THERE AND THEN DO PULL-UPS.
[Intense music plays]
A video shows a bald man in a grey T-shirt and safety harness quickly climbing up the column.
[Cheering]
Someone says, LET’S GO!
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Back inside, Akeylah wears a hard hat with her safety glasses tucked into her jacket.
Akeylah says, IRONWORKING IS FASCINATING, AND I BET ITS PAST IS TOO. SO LET'S IRON OUT THE HISTORY OF
IRONWORKING.
In black and white, Brody wears an ascot cap and suspenders. He hammers a wooden plank on a job site with a house made of wood.
[Hammer banging]
Akeylah narrates, BUILDINGS USED TO BE MADE OUT OF WOOD.
People take away the wooden plank. Brody appears on a job site with a steel structure, and he frowns.
Akeylah narrates, THEN IN THE 1880S, THAT WOOD WAS REPLACED BY IRON, AND THE JOB OF THE IRONWORKER WAS BORN.
A steel beam is placed in front of Brody. Brody shrugs and hammers the beam.
[Clanging]
Akeylah narrates, IRONWORKERS STARTED WORKING WAY UP HIGH TO BUILD TALL BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES, WHICH WAS VERY UNSAFE.
An ironworker walks across a beam high up in the sky in a city.
[Car horns honking]
Brody steps forward and stumbles. He wipes sweat off his forehead.
Akeylah narrates, SO IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, IRONWORKERS FORMED THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF IRONWORKERS, THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO INCREASE THEIR WAGES AND THEIR SAFETY.
On a street with a celebrating crowd, Brody shakes hands with people.
[Clapping]
Akeylah narrates, IN ONTARIO, THE ROLE OF IRONWORKER APPRENTICE STARTED IN THE MID TO LATE 60S AT THE
GEORGE BROWN CAMPUS AT CASA LOMA.
Wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, Brody carries a stack of books across the George Brown college campus and looks around.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
At Ironworkers 721, Akeylah sits on an iron girder with Jamie, wearing their hard hats and safety gloves.
Akeylah says, IRONWORKING HAS A SUPER COOL HISTORY, AND I BET YOU DO TOO.
Jamie nods.
She says, I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT WASN'T MY FIRST CAREER CHOICE. FIRST TIME I WENT TO SCHOOL WAS FOR MY PARENTS. THEY WANTED ME TO BE IN HEALTHCARE, AND THEN LATER ON IN LIFE, I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO ONE OF MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS, AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT DOING AN APPRENTICESHIP. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PAID TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN WITH MY HANDS, EARNING WHILE I WAS LEARNING,
WHICH WAS REALLY COOL, AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME AN IRONWORKER.
Akeylah asks, SO WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT SOMEONE CAN GET INTO A TRADE?
Jamie says, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. SO IF YOU'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, MAKE SURE YOU DO SOME OF THE TECH CLASSES IN SCHOOL SO THAT YOU CAN LEARN BEFORE YOU GET OUT THERE.
AND IF YOU REALLY ENJOY THOSE TECH CLASSES. THEN YOU CAN APPLY FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP, OR YOU CAN GO TO A TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND TAKE A CAREER IN A TECHNICAL TRADE AND THEN DO AN APPRENTICESHIP.
Akeylah asks, HOW LONG IS AN APPRENTICESHIP USUALLY?
Jamie says, WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF APPRENTICESHIPS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAREERS. AS AN IRONWORKER, IT'S A 6,000-HOUR APPRENTICESHIP, WHICH MEANS IT TAKES ABOUT THREE YEARS TO GET THROUGH, AND THERE'S ONLY 10% OF ALL OF THAT TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY SIT IN A CLASSROOM. SO 90% OF THE TIME, YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A JOB SITE, GETTING PAID TO LEARN.
Akeylah says, EARN WHILE YOU LEARN, YOU SAY.
She looks thoughtful.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Elsewhere in Ironworkers 721, Jamie brings Akeylah a tool belt.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY TO LEARN ABOUT IRONWORKER TOOLS?
Akeylah says, YES.
She takes the tool belt from Jamie.
Jamie says, YOU PUT THAT ON, I'LL GO GET THE TOOLS.
She leaves, and Akeylah looks at the tool belt. Jamie holds out a type of wrench.
Jamie says, THIS IS AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH. WE USE IT FOR OUR GAS AND OXYGEN BOTTLES.
Akeylah wears the tool belt and clips the adjustable wrench onto a carabiner on the belt. Jamie holds out a striker.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED A STRIKER.
She squeezes the striker, and sparks flicker.
Jamie says, WE USE IT TO LIGHT OUR TORCH.
Akeylah clips the striker to her belt. Jamie holds out a pair of wrenches with long handles.
Jamie says, THESE ARE CALLED SPUD WRENCHES. WE USE THEM TO ALIGN AND TIGHTEN BOLTS.
Akeylah slides the handles on the spud wrenches into holders in the tool belt. Jamie holds out a large nail-like tool.
Jamie says, THIS IS A BULL PIN. SOMETIMES, WHEN STEEL IS REALLY HARD TO ALIGN, WE HAVE TO HIT IT WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.
Jamie hits the bull pin with a sledgehammer, and it slides further through her grasp. Akeylah drops the bull pin in a holder on her belt and the sledgehammer into a pouch on the belt. Jamie holds out a tool that looks like a crowbar.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED THE SLEAVER BAR. IT HELPS US MOVE THE STEEL A LITTLE EASIER.
Akeylah slides the sleaver bar into a holder on the belt and puts her hands on her hips.
She says, I'M READY.
Akeylah turns around and slowly walks toward a garage door on the other side of the room The tools bang against each other.
[Metal clanging]
[Akeylah grunting]
Akeylah says, THIS IS DEFINITELY HEAVY.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, Akeylah slowly walks across a steel beam while hooked to a safety cable. She wears her harness and safety gear.
Akeylah says, ONE THING ABOUT IRONWORKING IS THAT YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR A LOT, BECAUSE YOU WORK ON BIG, TALL BUILDINGS.
Akeylah looks nervous.
She says, JUST LIKE MR. BONES, I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, BUT I'M HERE TO CONQUER THE FEAR.
[Akeylah exhaling loudly]
Akeylah walks further across the beam. She looks down. Under Akeylah, in black and white, an ironworker sitting on a beam high in the sky looks up.
[Car horns honking]
[Akeylah gasping]
Akeylah says, NOPE.
She hops off the beam onto the ground.
Akeylah says, WHAT? PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, RIGHT?
Akeylah smiles and walks alongside the beam.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
In a room in Ironworkers 721, metal rods line a wall and are connected in different positions.
Akeylah narrates, IRONWORKERS USE SOMETHING CALLED REBAR, WHICH STANDS FOR REINFORCEMENT BAR. REBAR KEEPS BUILDINGS STANDING UP STRAIGHT.
Wire holds the rebar together.
Akeylah narrates, JAMIE'S FRIEND, JADEN, IS AN EXPERT.
Ironworker Jaden Dacosta Brown has short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears a blue hard hat, a black hooded sweater and a safety harness. Akeylah meets Jaden beside a wall of tied-together rebar.
Akeylah asks, SO, WHY DO IRON WORKERS USE REBAR?
Jaden says, WELL REBAR HELPS CONCRETE TO STAY STRONG AND STRAIGHT.
Workers on a job site pour concrete over rebar.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?
Jaden says, WELL, WE TIE IT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
Akeylah says, YEAH!
Jaden says, OUR MOST BASIC TIE IS A SNAP TIE.
He ties vertical and horizontal pieces of rebar together with steel wire. He bends the wire with a pair of pliers.
Jaden says, DOWN, CROSS OVER, PUSH FORWARD, PINCH AND TWIST.
He cuts excess wire.
[Snapping]
Akeylah asks, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T TIE IT?
Jaden says, WELL, THE BARS WOULD MOVE AND THE CONCRETE WOULD CRACK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY TYING SOME REBAR?
Akeylah says, SURE.
Jaden asks, ARE YOU RIGHT-HANDED OR LEFT-HANDED?
Akeylah says, I'M RIGHT-HANDED.
Jaden says, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD THE PLIERS IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THE WIRE IN YOUR LEFT HAND.
He gives Akeylah the pliers and wire.
Jaden says, SO TAKE YOUR LEFT HAND AROUND THE BAR, PUT YOUR WIRE THERE, PULL YOUR WIRE DOWN, GRAB THIS END HERE.
He helps guide Akeylah’s movements.
Jaden says, YOU PUSH FORWARD, RIGHT, AND YOU TWIST RIGHT HERE.
Akeylah twists the wire wrapped around two pieces of rebar and ties them together.
She asks, LIKE THAT?
Jaden says, YEAH, THERE WE GO. AND THEN CUT YOUR EXCESS WIRE RIGHT THERE.
Akeylah cuts the excess wire with the pliers.
[Wire snapping]
Jaden says, RIGHT THERE. HOW'S IT FEELING? IS IT STURDY?
Akeylah pulls on the rebar.
She nods and says, STURDY.
Akeylah smiles and high-fives Jaden.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, near the steel structure, Akeylah stands on the platform of an aerial lift with Jamie and holds onto the railing. She wears her hard hat, safety glasses, and gloves with her harness hooked to the platform.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, I'VE CONQUERED MY FEAR OF HEIGHTS AND I'M NOW DOWN TO GO UP. JAMIE'S GOING TO SHOW ME HOW TO PUT A BOLT IN A STRUCTURE. UP, UP AND AWAY!
Jamie raises the aerial lift. She and Akeylah ride the lift past multiple floors of the structure.
[Aerial lift whirring]
Akeylah says, WOW!
Jamie moves the platform toward bolts on a steel column near the top of the structure. Jamie holds up two spud wrenches.
Jamie asks, ALL RIGHT, DO YOU REMEMBER THESE TOOLS?
Akeylah nods and says, YEAH.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU PUT THAT ON ONE SIDE.
Akeylah puts one wrench on a bolt on the column.
Jamie says, WE'LL JUST FLIP THIS AROUND LIKE THAT, PUT THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
She helps Akeylah put the second spud wrench on the opposite bolt.
Jamie says, NOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS TRY TO SQUEEZE THEM TOGETHER. TOGETHER REAL HARD.
Akeylah pulls on the wrenches.
She says, WOAH! OKAY.
Jamie says, SO, YOU ALWAYS GOTTA REMEMBER, RIGHTY IS TIGHTY.
Akeylah says, LEFTY LOOSEY.
Jamie says, YOU GOT IT.
On the ground, Mr. Bones cheers, LET'S GO AKEYLAH, WOO!
Akeylah pulls on the spud wrenches and tightens the bolts.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT'LL HOLD.
Jamie says, SO ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING ABOUT BEING AN IRONWORKER OR BEING IN THE SKILLED TRADES IS WE LOVE STICKERS.
Jamie holds up a sticker.
She says, SO NOW THAT YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CONNECTOR, WE ARE GOING TO CERTIFY YOU AS AN IRONWORKER.
Jamie sticks an Ironworker 721 sticker on Akeylah’s hard hat.
Jamie says, CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME TO THE CLUB.
She and Akeylah fist-bump.
Akeylah cheers, YES!
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Back at the Skill Space, Akeylah leans against the worktable with Brody and a new flat cardboard tube bridge.
Akeylah says, SO WE REINFORCED THE BRIDGE WITH GIRDERS.
She points to grey dowel rods holding the bridge up.
Brody says, JUST LIKE WHAT AN IRONWORKER WOULD DO.
Akeylah says, I HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THE SKILL TRADE OF IRONWORKING AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.
Brody says, SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY REINFORCED THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND THE FRAMEWORK OF –
Akeylah interrupts and says, THAT'S ENOUGH.
Brody says, PHEW. COMMENCE TEST?
Akeylah says, COMMENCE TEST.
Brody rolls the toy truck across the bridge. The truck rolls off the other side into Akeylah’s hands.
Akeylah and Brody cheer, YES!!
Akeylah and Brody cheer, LET'S GO TEAM TRADES!
They high-five.
Brody says, JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE TRADE PLACES ON OUR JOURNEY TO LEARN NEW SKILLS.
Akeylah says, NEXT TIME IT COULD BE THE SKILL TRADE THAT TAKES YOU TO THE TOP.
Brody and Akeylah wave.
Together, they say, BYE!
Akeylah rolls the toy truck across the bridge.
[Cheerful music continues]
End credits: Hosts, Akeylah James and Brody Agmon. Co-host Anna Paul. Tradespersons Jamie MacMillan, Jacob Dacosta Brown. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Produced in association with t.v.o.kids. Logo: Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
A child says, WHEE!
t.v.o. kids and Riverbank Pictures Original.
[Giggling]
[Upbeat music plays]
Gears turn on a blueprint. Text reads, T.V.O. kids presents.
A girl with black hair in short, tight braids wears a blue long-sleeved shirt. She stands beside a boy with short, curly brown hair wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt.
The two kids say, WELCOME TO TRADING SKILLS!
They cross their arms and stand back to back. The brown-haired boy points to a video of the black-haired girl riding in a tractor.
The black-haired girl says, THE SHOW WHERE WE TAKE TURNS TRYING A SKILLED TRADE. I'M AKEYLAH.
The brown-haired boy says, AND I'M BRODY.
Akeylah, the black-haired girl, says, A SKILLED TRADE IS A JOB THAT REQUIRES A SPECIAL SKILL.
Videos show Akeylah and the brown-haired boy Brody trying different skilled trades.
They both say, THERE ARE LOTS OF SKILL TRADES.
Brody uses a virtual reality headset and controllers.
Brody says, AND YOU MIGHT FIND THE PERFECT TRADE FOR YOU!
Akeylah makes dough and rides an aerial lift.
Akeylah says, MAYBE THERE'S A TRADE THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Brody explores a greenhouse.
Brody says, SO COME WITH US INTO THE TRADES.
Together, Akeylah and Brody say, ON TRADING SKILLS.
Title: Trading Skills.
[Upbeat music plays]
In the Skill Space, a light shines in an open car engine.
Close by, Brody says, DON'T BREAK, DON'T BREAK, DON'T BREAK.
He carefully places a cardboard tube bridge with a sagging platform on the work table. Brody wears a blue, white, red and yellow striped long-sleeved shirt.
Brody says, THERE WE GO.
He looks over his shoulder toward the upper floor.
Brody says, I THINK WE'RE READY.
On the upper floor, Akeylah crouches near the railing. She wears her black hair in long, tight braids and a burgundy long-sleeved shirt.
Akeylah says, ON MY WAY!
She joins Brody at the work table.
Brody asks, DO WE HAVE A VOLUNTEER?
Akeylah holds up a toy truck.
She says, VOLUNTEER ACCOUNTED FOR. COMMENCE TEST?
Brody says, COMMENCE TEST.
[Drum roll]
Akeylah rolls the toy truck onto the sagging platform and into the centre.
[Disappointed trumpet]
[Akeylah groaning]
Brody groans, AHHH!
Akeylah says, ANOTHER FAIL. I GUESS IT'S...
Together, Brody and Akeylah say, …BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
Brody leans an elbow on the table and rests his chin on his fist.
He says, THERE'S GOTTA BE A SKILL TRADE WE CAN LEARN ABOUT TO HELP US FINISH THIS BRIDGE.
Anna steps out from behind the tool wall wearing a black and white plaid button-down shirt and a tool belt.
Anna says, HEY GANG.
Brody and Akeylah say, HEY ANNA!
Anna says, I'VE GOT A SUGGESTION. WHAT ABOUT IRONWORKING?
Akeylah says, THIS IS OUR FRIEND ANNA AND SHE KNOWS A TON ABOUT SKILLED TRADES.
Anna smiles and waves.
Brody asks, WHAT DOES AN IRONWORKER DO?
Anna says, IRONWORKERS BUILD THE FRAMES THAT KEEP ALL SORTS OF STRUCTURES LIKE BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES,
STANDING UP AND NOT FALLING DOWN.
Akeylah says, WE GOTTA LEARN ABOUT IRONWORKING.
Brody nods.
Anna says, WELL, YOU'RE IN LUCK 'CAUSE MY FRIEND, JAMIE, HAS BEEN AN IRONWORKER FOR 20 YEARS AND I BET SHE COULD SHOW YOU THE ROPES, OR THE CHAIN, WHEN IT COMES TO IRONWORKING.
Ironworker Jamie McMillan has long brown hair and glasses. Jamie wears a black hard hat with stickers and a yellow high-visibility jacket over a black T-shirt.
Brody says, WELL AKEYLAH, IT'S YOUR TURN.ARE YOU READY TO GO LEARN ABOUT THE SKILLED TRADE OF IRONWORKING?
Akeylah says, YOU BET, TRADES AWAY!
She waves and steps away from the table. Brody and Anna wave and watch Akeylah leave.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, upbeat music plays]
Akeylah walks alongside a mural of ironworkers on a job site. A logo on the mural reads, Local 721 Ontario.
Akeylah narrates, I ARRIVED AT IRONWORKERS 721, WHICH IS KIND OF LIKE A CLUBHOUSE FOR IRONWORKERS.
In the Ironworkers 721 building, a person wearing a high-visibility jacket and other safety gear works with a torch on a piece of iron.
[Sizzling]
Akeylah narrates, I TRACKED DOWN JAMIE. SHE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING.
Akeylah walks up to Jamie, the person working, and smiles. With her burning shield raised, Jamie smiles back.
Akeylah says, HEY JAMIE!
Jamie says, HEY AKEYLAH, WELCOME!
She puts down the torch.
Akeylah asks, WHAT PART OF THE IRONWORKING TRADE IS THIS?
Jamie says, SO THIS IS CALLED FABRICATION AND TORCH CUTTING. SO BASICALLY, WE HAVE TO CUT AND DESIGN THE METAL INTO THE STRUCTURAL PIECES THAT WE NEED.
Later, in a locker room, Jamie picks up a tool belt of heavy tools. On a tall steel structure, she tightens a bolt.
Jamie narrates, IRONWORKERS CONNECT STRUCTURAL STEEL IN BIG BUILDINGS, OFTEN WORKING UP HIGH IN THE SKY.
Jamie wears a safety harness connected to a cable between cables across the structure. She walks across a narrow steel beam. In the Ironworkers 721 building, a life-size skeleton decoration sits on a bench.
[Spooky music plays]
Akeylah asks, WHO'S THIS?
She wears a hard hat and sits on one side of the skeleton. Jamie sits on the other side, wearing her hard hat.
Jamie says, THIS IS MR. BONES.
Akeylah asks, WHAT'S HE DOING HERE?
Jamie says, WELL, HE'S HERE TO REPRESENT WHAT IRONWORKING IS ALL ABOUT. DO YOU HAVE A SKELETON IN
YOUR BODY?
Mr. Bones’ head turns.
Mr. Bones says, YEAH, DO YOU?
Akeylah says, WELL, I HOPE SO.
Jamie says, WELL, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A SKELETON IN YOUR BODY?
Akeylah says, I'D PROBABLY BE A PILE OF GOO ON THE FLOOR.
Mr. Bones says, GROSS!
Jamie says, YEAH, AND WE DON'T WANT THAT. WELL, MR. BONES REPRESENTS THE STRUCTURAL STEEL THAT HOLDS BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES TOGETHER.
Akeylah nods and says, SO IRONWORKERS INSTALL THE BONES OF BUILDINGS!
Mr. Bones says, YEAH, THIS IS COOL AND ALL, BUT I'M NOT DOING ANY CLIMBING TODAY, AM I?
Akeylah says, NO, YOU CAN STAY HERE AND REST YOUR BONES.
Akeylah high-fives Mr. Bones.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Elsewhere in Ironworkers 721, Akeylah pulls on a large black jacket.
Akeylah narrates, I WANTED TO SEE TORCH CUTTING UP CLOSE, BUT SAFETY FIRST!
Jamie says, NEXT, YOU NEED SAFETY GLASSES. YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO PROTECT YOUR EYES.
Akeylah slides on safety glasses.
Jamie says, ALWAYS NEED TO HAVE ON YOUR SAFETY GLOVES.
Akeylah wears safety gloves and gives two thumbs-up.
Jamie says, LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A HARD HAT WITH A BURNING SHIELD ALREADY ON IT.
Akeylah wears a hard hat with a burning shield covering her face.
Akeylah says, I FEEL LIKE AN ASTRONAUT.
Jamie grins.
She says, SO WHAT I DO IS I USE OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE TO CUT THROUGH THIS STEEL. THIS IS CALLED THE STRIKER, AND IT MAKES SPARKS.
Jamie lights her torch with a striker, and a bright flame emerges.
She says, ONCE YOU HAVE YOUR FLAME GOING, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO TURN ON YOUR OXYGEN AND YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR THE TORCH ROARING.
Jamie turns on the oxygen. The flame narrows and turns blue.
[Torch roaring]
Akeylah says, WHOA!
Jamie says, PRETTY COOL, EH?
Akeylah says, YEAH, SO COOL.
Jamie asks, YOU READY?
Akeylah says, DEFINITELY.
Jamie lowers her burning shield to cover her face completely and holds the flame over a section of the piece of iron.
Jamie says, YOU PULL THE TRIGGER AND YOU MAKE SOME SPARKS.
She pushes a trigger on the torch handle and sparks fly off the iron.
[Sparks hissing]
[Flame roaring]
[Akeylah gasping]
Akeylah says, WHOA!
Jamie asks, CAN YOU HEAR IT ROARING?
Akeylah says, IT'S ROARING!
Jamie says, IT'S ROARING AND IT'S RED HOT.
Akeylah says, THAT IS A LOT OF SPARKS. IT'S LIKE FIREWORKS.
The sparks scatter across the floor.
Jamie says, IT SURE IS.
She cuts through the iron with the flame, and a piece falls off.
[Clanging]
Akeylah cheers, YEAH!
[Jamie laughing]
Jamie turns the torch off. Akeylah lifts her burning shield off her face.
Akeylah says, THAT WAS SO COOL. WHAT ELSE DO IRONWORKERS DO?
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, it snows on a multi-floor steel structure.
Akeylah narrates, WE WENT OUTSIDE SO JAMIE COULD SHOW ME HOW TO GET A LEG UP ON IRONWORKING.
Akeylah and Jamie walk up to a tall piece of steel.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED A COLUMN AND THIS IS A SUPPORT THAT STANDS UP VERTICALLY AND HOLDS A STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO IT DOESN'T FALL OVER NOW.
Akeylah looks at the column. She and Jamie wear their hard hats and safety glasses.
Jamie says, NOW, SOMETIMES IRONWORKERS GET TO CLIMB ON STEEL JUST LIKE MONKEY BARS. ARE YOU READY TO
TRY IT OUT?
[Akeylah exhaling]
Akeylah says OKAY, I CAN DO THIS.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA GET YOU HOOKED UP.
She clips a hook to a harness on Akeylah.
Jamie says, SO I'VE GOT A HOOK ON YOUR HARNESS AND YOU'RE NICE AND SAFE. THAT'S GONNA KIND OF HELP PULL YOU UP A LITTLE BIT TOO. YOU'RE GONNA STEP UP NICE AND CLOSE.
Akeylah steps closer to the column.
Jamie says, AND YOU'RE GONNA GRAB ONE LEG, AND YOU'RE GONNA HOOK IT RIGHT INTO THE COLUMN.
Akeylah hooks her right foot between the plates of the column.
Jamie says, JUST LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE GONNA TRY AND PULL YOURSELF UP AND HOOK YOUR OTHER LEG ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE.
Akeylah pulls herself up the column.
Jamie says, CAN YOU GET THE OTHER LEG IN? DO THE SAME.
Akeylah hooks her left foot between the column plates on the other side.
Jamie says, GOOD JOB!
Akeylah climbs up the column.
[Akeylah laughing]
Jamie says, GOOD JOB! LINK IT IN THERE REAL NICE AND TIGHT.
Akeylah tightens her grip. Her foot slides down the column, and she looks down at Jamie.
Jamie says, YOU THINK YOU CAN GO UP ONE MORE?
Akeylah nods and says, YEAH.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT.
She holds Akeylah’s right leg in place.
Jamie says, WE'LL GET YOU.
[Akeylah laughing]
Akeylah’s left foot slips.
Jamie says, WE'LL GET YOU.
[Jamie laughing]
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, AND THEN SLIDE DOWN.
Akeylah slides down the column.
[Akeylah and Jamie laughing]
Jamie says, GOOD JOB!
Akeylah says, I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEBODY CAN CLIMB ALL THE WAY UP THERE.
Jamie says, I KNOW A GUY WHO CAN CLIMB ALL THE WAY UP THERE AND THEN DO PULL-UPS.
[Intense music plays]
A video shows a bald man in a grey T-shirt and safety harness quickly climbing up the column.
[Cheering]
Someone says, LET’S GO!
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Back inside, Akeylah wears a hard hat with her safety glasses tucked into her jacket.
Akeylah says, IRONWORKING IS FASCINATING, AND I BET ITS PAST IS TOO. SO LET'S IRON OUT THE HISTORY OF
IRONWORKING.
In black and white, Brody wears an ascot cap and suspenders. He hammers a wooden plank on a job site with a house made of wood.
[Hammer banging]
Akeylah narrates, BUILDINGS USED TO BE MADE OUT OF WOOD.
People take away the wooden plank. Brody appears on a job site with a steel structure, and he frowns.
Akeylah narrates, THEN IN THE 1880S, THAT WOOD WAS REPLACED BY IRON, AND THE JOB OF THE IRONWORKER WAS BORN.
A steel beam is placed in front of Brody. Brody shrugs and hammers the beam.
[Clanging]
Akeylah narrates, IRONWORKERS STARTED WORKING WAY UP HIGH TO BUILD TALL BUILDINGS AND BRIDGES, WHICH WAS VERY UNSAFE.
An ironworker walks across a beam high up in the sky in a city.
[Car horns honking]
Brody steps forward and stumbles. He wipes sweat off his forehead.
Akeylah narrates, SO IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY, IRONWORKERS FORMED THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF IRONWORKERS, THEY WORKED TOGETHER TO INCREASE THEIR WAGES AND THEIR SAFETY.
On a street with a celebrating crowd, Brody shakes hands with people.
[Clapping]
Akeylah narrates, IN ONTARIO, THE ROLE OF IRONWORKER APPRENTICE STARTED IN THE MID TO LATE 60S AT THE
GEORGE BROWN CAMPUS AT CASA LOMA.
Wearing a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, Brody carries a stack of books across the George Brown college campus and looks around.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
At Ironworkers 721, Akeylah sits on an iron girder with Jamie, wearing their hard hats and safety gloves.
Akeylah says, IRONWORKING HAS A SUPER COOL HISTORY, AND I BET YOU DO TOO.
Jamie nods.
She says, I HAVE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT WASN'T MY FIRST CAREER CHOICE. FIRST TIME I WENT TO SCHOOL WAS FOR MY PARENTS. THEY WANTED ME TO BE IN HEALTHCARE, AND THEN LATER ON IN LIFE, I ENDED UP RUNNING INTO ONE OF MY OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS, AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT DOING AN APPRENTICESHIP. AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET PAID TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN WITH MY HANDS, EARNING WHILE I WAS LEARNING,
WHICH WAS REALLY COOL, AND THAT'S HOW I BECAME AN IRONWORKER.
Akeylah asks, SO WHAT ARE THE WAYS THAT SOMEONE CAN GET INTO A TRADE?
Jamie says, WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS. SO IF YOU'RE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, MAKE SURE YOU DO SOME OF THE TECH CLASSES IN SCHOOL SO THAT YOU CAN LEARN BEFORE YOU GET OUT THERE.
AND IF YOU REALLY ENJOY THOSE TECH CLASSES. THEN YOU CAN APPLY FOR AN APPRENTICESHIP, OR YOU CAN GO TO A TECHNICAL COLLEGE AND TAKE A CAREER IN A TECHNICAL TRADE AND THEN DO AN APPRENTICESHIP.
Akeylah asks, HOW LONG IS AN APPRENTICESHIP USUALLY?
Jamie says, WELL, THERE'S DIFFERENT LENGTHS OF APPRENTICESHIPS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAREERS. AS AN IRONWORKER, IT'S A 6,000-HOUR APPRENTICESHIP, WHICH MEANS IT TAKES ABOUT THREE YEARS TO GET THROUGH, AND THERE'S ONLY 10% OF ALL OF THAT TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO ACTUALLY SIT IN A CLASSROOM. SO 90% OF THE TIME, YOU'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON A JOB SITE, GETTING PAID TO LEARN.
Akeylah says, EARN WHILE YOU LEARN, YOU SAY.
She looks thoughtful.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Elsewhere in Ironworkers 721, Jamie brings Akeylah a tool belt.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY TO LEARN ABOUT IRONWORKER TOOLS?
Akeylah says, YES.
She takes the tool belt from Jamie.
Jamie says, YOU PUT THAT ON, I'LL GO GET THE TOOLS.
She leaves, and Akeylah looks at the tool belt. Jamie holds out a type of wrench.
Jamie says, THIS IS AN ADJUSTABLE WRENCH. WE USE IT FOR OUR GAS AND OXYGEN BOTTLES.
Akeylah wears the tool belt and clips the adjustable wrench onto a carabiner on the belt. Jamie holds out a striker.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED A STRIKER.
She squeezes the striker, and sparks flicker.
Jamie says, WE USE IT TO LIGHT OUR TORCH.
Akeylah clips the striker to her belt. Jamie holds out a pair of wrenches with long handles.
Jamie says, THESE ARE CALLED SPUD WRENCHES. WE USE THEM TO ALIGN AND TIGHTEN BOLTS.
Akeylah slides the handles on the spud wrenches into holders in the tool belt. Jamie holds out a large nail-like tool.
Jamie says, THIS IS A BULL PIN. SOMETIMES, WHEN STEEL IS REALLY HARD TO ALIGN, WE HAVE TO HIT IT WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER.
Jamie hits the bull pin with a sledgehammer, and it slides further through her grasp. Akeylah drops the bull pin in a holder on her belt and the sledgehammer into a pouch on the belt. Jamie holds out a tool that looks like a crowbar.
Jamie says, THIS IS CALLED THE SLEAVER BAR. IT HELPS US MOVE THE STEEL A LITTLE EASIER.
Akeylah slides the sleaver bar into a holder on the belt and puts her hands on her hips.
She says, I'M READY.
Akeylah turns around and slowly walks toward a garage door on the other side of the room The tools bang against each other.
[Metal clanging]
[Akeylah grunting]
Akeylah says, THIS IS DEFINITELY HEAVY.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, Akeylah slowly walks across a steel beam while hooked to a safety cable. She wears her harness and safety gear.
Akeylah says, ONE THING ABOUT IRONWORKING IS THAT YOU'RE UP IN THE AIR A LOT, BECAUSE YOU WORK ON BIG, TALL BUILDINGS.
Akeylah looks nervous.
She says, JUST LIKE MR. BONES, I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS, BUT I'M HERE TO CONQUER THE FEAR.
[Akeylah exhaling loudly]
Akeylah walks further across the beam. She looks down. Under Akeylah, in black and white, an ironworker sitting on a beam high in the sky looks up.
[Car horns honking]
[Akeylah gasping]
Akeylah says, NOPE.
She hops off the beam onto the ground.
Akeylah says, WHAT? PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, RIGHT?
Akeylah smiles and walks alongside the beam.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
In a room in Ironworkers 721, metal rods line a wall and are connected in different positions.
Akeylah narrates, IRONWORKERS USE SOMETHING CALLED REBAR, WHICH STANDS FOR REINFORCEMENT BAR. REBAR KEEPS BUILDINGS STANDING UP STRAIGHT.
Wire holds the rebar together.
Akeylah narrates, JAMIE'S FRIEND, JADEN, IS AN EXPERT.
Ironworker Jaden Dacosta Brown has short black hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He wears a blue hard hat, a black hooded sweater and a safety harness. Akeylah meets Jaden beside a wall of tied-together rebar.
Akeylah asks, SO, WHY DO IRON WORKERS USE REBAR?
Jaden says, WELL REBAR HELPS CONCRETE TO STAY STRONG AND STRAIGHT.
Workers on a job site pour concrete over rebar.
Akeylah asks, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT?
Jaden says, WELL, WE TIE IT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
Akeylah says, YEAH!
Jaden says, OUR MOST BASIC TIE IS A SNAP TIE.
He ties vertical and horizontal pieces of rebar together with steel wire. He bends the wire with a pair of pliers.
Jaden says, DOWN, CROSS OVER, PUSH FORWARD, PINCH AND TWIST.
He cuts excess wire.
[Snapping]
Akeylah asks, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU DIDN'T TIE IT?
Jaden says, WELL, THE BARS WOULD MOVE AND THE CONCRETE WOULD CRACK. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY TYING SOME REBAR?
Akeylah says, SURE.
Jaden asks, ARE YOU RIGHT-HANDED OR LEFT-HANDED?
Akeylah says, I'M RIGHT-HANDED.
Jaden says, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD THE PLIERS IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THE WIRE IN YOUR LEFT HAND.
He gives Akeylah the pliers and wire.
Jaden says, SO TAKE YOUR LEFT HAND AROUND THE BAR, PUT YOUR WIRE THERE, PULL YOUR WIRE DOWN, GRAB THIS END HERE.
He helps guide Akeylah’s movements.
Jaden says, YOU PUSH FORWARD, RIGHT, AND YOU TWIST RIGHT HERE.
Akeylah twists the wire wrapped around two pieces of rebar and ties them together.
She asks, LIKE THAT?
Jaden says, YEAH, THERE WE GO. AND THEN CUT YOUR EXCESS WIRE RIGHT THERE.
Akeylah cuts the excess wire with the pliers.
[Wire snapping]
Jaden says, RIGHT THERE. HOW'S IT FEELING? IS IT STURDY?
Akeylah pulls on the rebar.
She nods and says, STURDY.
Akeylah smiles and high-fives Jaden.
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Outside, near the steel structure, Akeylah stands on the platform of an aerial lift with Jamie and holds onto the railing. She wears her hard hat, safety glasses, and gloves with her harness hooked to the platform.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, I'VE CONQUERED MY FEAR OF HEIGHTS AND I'M NOW DOWN TO GO UP. JAMIE'S GOING TO SHOW ME HOW TO PUT A BOLT IN A STRUCTURE. UP, UP AND AWAY!
Jamie raises the aerial lift. She and Akeylah ride the lift past multiple floors of the structure.
[Aerial lift whirring]
Akeylah says, WOW!
Jamie moves the platform toward bolts on a steel column near the top of the structure. Jamie holds up two spud wrenches.
Jamie asks, ALL RIGHT, DO YOU REMEMBER THESE TOOLS?
Akeylah nods and says, YEAH.
Jamie says, ALL RIGHT, SO YOU PUT THAT ON ONE SIDE.
Akeylah puts one wrench on a bolt on the column.
Jamie says, WE'LL JUST FLIP THIS AROUND LIKE THAT, PUT THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
She helps Akeylah put the second spud wrench on the opposite bolt.
Jamie says, NOW WHAT YOU GOTTA DO IS TRY TO SQUEEZE THEM TOGETHER. TOGETHER REAL HARD.
Akeylah pulls on the wrenches.
She says, WOAH! OKAY.
Jamie says, SO, YOU ALWAYS GOTTA REMEMBER, RIGHTY IS TIGHTY.
Akeylah says, LEFTY LOOSEY.
Jamie says, YOU GOT IT.
On the ground, Mr. Bones cheers, LET'S GO AKEYLAH, WOO!
Akeylah pulls on the spud wrenches and tightens the bolts.
Akeylah says, ALL RIGHT, I THINK THAT'LL HOLD.
Jamie says, SO ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING ABOUT BEING AN IRONWORKER OR BEING IN THE SKILLED TRADES IS WE LOVE STICKERS.
Jamie holds up a sticker.
She says, SO NOW THAT YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A CONNECTOR, WE ARE GOING TO CERTIFY YOU AS AN IRONWORKER.
Jamie sticks an Ironworker 721 sticker on Akeylah’s hard hat.
Jamie says, CONGRATULATIONS. WELCOME TO THE CLUB.
She and Akeylah fist-bump.
Akeylah cheers, YES!
[Bright music plays]
Title: Trading Skills.
[Gentle, cheerful music plays]
Back at the Skill Space, Akeylah leans against the worktable with Brody and a new flat cardboard tube bridge.
Akeylah says, SO WE REINFORCED THE BRIDGE WITH GIRDERS.
She points to grey dowel rods holding the bridge up.
Brody says, JUST LIKE WHAT AN IRONWORKER WOULD DO.
Akeylah says, I HAD HIGH HOPES FOR THE SKILL TRADE OF IRONWORKING AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT.
Brody says, SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY REINFORCED THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND THE FRAMEWORK OF –
Akeylah interrupts and says, THAT'S ENOUGH.
Brody says, PHEW. COMMENCE TEST?
Akeylah says, COMMENCE TEST.
Brody rolls the toy truck across the bridge. The truck rolls off the other side into Akeylah’s hands.
Akeylah and Brody cheer, YES!!
Akeylah and Brody cheer, LET'S GO TEAM TRADES!
They high-five.
Brody says, JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE TRADE PLACES ON OUR JOURNEY TO LEARN NEW SKILLS.
Akeylah says, NEXT TIME IT COULD BE THE SKILL TRADE THAT TAKES YOU TO THE TOP.
Brody and Akeylah wave.
Together, they say, BYE!
Akeylah rolls the toy truck across the bridge.
[Cheerful music continues]
End credits: Hosts, Akeylah James and Brody Agmon. Co-host Anna Paul. Tradespersons Jamie MacMillan, Jacob Dacosta Brown. Written and directed by Johnny Mitchell. Produced by Francis Mitchell, Johnny Mitchell, David Mitchell. Produced in association with t.v.o.kids. Logo: Riverbank Pictures. Copyright 2024 Riverbank Pictures.
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