For Damian Friesen, age 20, the sound of a diesel engine isn’t just noise, it’s a family legacy. 

A Grade 12 student at Manning Aurora Composite School, Friesen grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather, who spent 25 years driving cross-country routes in a truck and trailer. Since his grandfather’s passing, Friesen has been driven by a singular goal: to carry on that legacy and find his own place behind the wheel of a Class 1 truck.

“I told [my grandfather] before he died that I was going to take after him,” Friesen said. “So that's why I want my Class 1, to fulfill the family legacy.” 

However, fulfilling that promise required Friesen to navigate a road to graduation that was anything but a straight line. In the fall of his Grade 11 year, he chose to leave the classroom to head into the bush, operating a skidder during the winter log haul. While the work was rewarding, the path back to school proved to be a steep climb.

When he attempted to return in the Spring of 2023, he found himself battling more than just a heavy workload. "My dyslexia was kicking in pretty bad," Friesen recalled, reflecting on the frustration of feeling like he was "done" with traditional schooling. The struggle led him to drop out again during what should have been his Grade 12 year.

The turning point came with the opening of the North Peace Commercial Driving Academy in Grimshaw. Friesen said he found that securing a full-time job with a liveable wage was difficult without his high school diploma. Hearing about the Driving Academy provided the spark he needed to try school one more time. Returning in the Fall of 2025 as a fifth-year high school student, Friesen began progressing through the steps to earn his Class 1 license and air brakes certification through the Peace River School Division.

In Alberta, while many students graduate in three years, others take a fourth or fifth year to cross the finish line. For Friesen, that extra time has made all the difference. Today, he is back on track to graduate with a Certificate of Achievement. This specific pathway, part of the Knowledge and Employability (K&E) program, requires students to earn a minimum of 80 credits and complete core courses alongside occupational and workplace-focused training. For a student like Friesen, who thrives in practical environments, this program offers a bridge between the classroom and the workforce.

Friesen said he has enjoyed the practical environment of the Driving Academy. His experience with the air brakes program highlights his own sense of dedication and determination: while the written portion of the exam took him four attempts to master due to his dyslexia, his perseverance never wavered. When it came time for the physical, hands-on test, his natural aptitude for the machinery shone through and he passed with a perfect 100% score.

"They explain everything there," Friesen said of his instructors at the Driving Academy. "As long as you pay attention and give your 110%, they will do the same."

The North Peace Commercial Driving Academy was, in part, initiated for students exactly like Friesen: those who are ready to work, eager to learn, and looking for a tangible pathway to a successful career. Having already mastered his air brakes, Friesen is set to begin his full Class 1 driver training with the North Peace Commercial Driving Academy next week. 

For Friesen, the program has provided the practical tools to turn a personal commitment into a professional reality.