Around 14 towing and recovery workers took part in a training course in Cranbrook on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27.
Led by elite instructor Bruce Campbell from Banff, the Wreckmaster course took participants through several vehicle recovery scenarios at Van Horne Towing.
On Tuesday, the participants took part in an exercise where a semi truck with a 53-foot van was tipped on its side and then righted.
On Wednesday, a 50-passenger bus was recovered, with the participants carefully lifting it and lowering it onto its wheels, breaking only one light in the process.
Course participants came from all over the region – Kamloops, Canmore, Creston and Jaffray – as well as staff from Van Horne Towing, Cold Country Towing and Freightliner in Cranbrook.
About eight of the participants received a $1,500 training grant from Kootenay Employment Services through the Targeted Skills Shortage Program. The funding from the B.C. Jobs, Tourism and Skills Management Ministry is for people working in health care and social welfare, transportation, manufacturing, green economy and clean energy sectors.