24 l ROOFINGBC l SPRING 2019 FACES OF THE TRADE M any in the roofing industry will say, “once you’re in the trade, you never leave,” but for James LePage roofing has become much more than a career. For LePage, the roofing industry has provided him with a new direction in his life journey. LePage came into the industry through a dynamic employment program established between Fraser Regional Correction District (FRCD) and the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia (RCABC). Established in 2018, the program offers inmates in open, medium, secure and protective custody an opportunity to participate in RCABC’s four-week Level One Roofing, Damp and Waterproofer (RDW) training program. This training assists inmates to gain meaningful, well-paying employment in the roofing industry upon their release, as well as assisting RCABC member contractors who are in need of skilled workers. To date the program has seen 107 inmates successfully complete the training, and LePage was one of them.