The government is strengthening support for apprenticeship and Alberta’s skilled trades by investing $15 million over the next three years to fund 12 new and existing community partnerships.
These partnerships help promote and build awareness for skilled trades professions and expand support for Albertans wanting to register for apprenticeship education programs.
“We are elevating apprenticeship education and making sure Albertans understand the great value in training for a career in the skilled trades. Alberta’s continued economic growth depends on the development of a highly trained workforce to meet increasing labour market demands.”
This grant funding builds on the recently announced $15 million in funding to expand apprenticeship opportunities, bringing the total new funding for apprenticeship education to $30 million over the next three years through the Alberta at Work initiative.
Funding comes from the Alberta at Work initiative introduced in Budget 2022 and provides $5 million a year for the next three years to fund existing and new apprenticeship partnership grants.
“CAREERS applauds the government’s commitment to Alberta’s future workforce. This funding will go directly to providing more student internships and improving access to apprenticeship training. As a result, employers will have an easier time attracting youth, mitigating future workforce gaps, and contributing to a healthy and sustainable economy.”
“We are pleased to partner with the government to help train the next generation of the skilled trades workforce. This is a critical time for Canada’s aging construction sector and CLAC is committed to being innovative and creative in reaching new people for careers in the skilled trades. Through this partnership, we will see hundreds of new construction workers throughout Alberta who are trained, safe and competent to begin rewarding careers.”
“The future of apprenticeship training involves engaging with students in the K-12 system and helping them build math and science skills through authentic learning opportunities that will lead them towards meaningful careers in the skilled trades. Thanks to this funding, Lethbridge College will expand its role as a leader in apprenticeship training, creating new opportunities to support students and industry now and into the future.”
“For more than 30 years, Momentum and SAIT have worked together to provide pre-apprenticeship Trades Training for new Canadian and Indigenous learners. The new Alberta at Work apprenticeship investment will increase access to apprenticeship training for women and 2SLGBTQ+ community members, widening the path to good quality trades-based careers.”
“We have heard clearly from our industry partners about their ongoing challenges to find talent to support the skilled trades in Alberta. This funding will help meet that need by removing the barriers faced by new Canadians through a model that fast-tracks newcomers into meaningful careers in the skilled trades.”
"This support allows Skills Canada Alberta to reach more students with experiential and exploratory programming. These programs give junior high students an opportunity to test drive trade and technology careers. The goal is to provide a moment of inspiration and discovery for students before they are making decisions about their education pathways."
“There are many exciting upcoming opportunities in the skilled construction trades for the people of Alberta. This investment highlights the importance of these roles in supporting our province’s growing economy. We look forward to continuing our work, alongside others, to champion careers in the trades.”
Alberta at Work is a more than $600-million investment over the next three years in new and existing initiatives to help Albertans gain in-demand skills that will support economic growth and attract investment now and in the future. It features investments that support Albertans from primary school to post-secondary skills training, as well as retraining for changing career paths and finding well-paying jobs.
Investing in community partners helps the government transform Alberta’s apprenticeship and skills training system and fulfil the vision of Alberta 2030 by making the post-secondary system even more responsive to the needs of Albertans and industry.
The Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy is a transformational vision and direction for Alberta’s higher education system, which will develop a highly skilled and competitive workforce, strengthen innovation and commercialization of research, and forge stronger relationships between employers and post-secondary institutions.
Quick facts
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Rural and urban funding breakdown of the 12 grants:
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Rural with either Edmonton and/or Calgary included: 6
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Edmonton and Calgary: 2
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Edmonton only: 3
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Calgary only: 1
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Community Partner Grants and funding amounts:
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Alberta Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (Pre-Apprenticeship Gladiator Program, Recruitment & Marketing Strategy): $488,866
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Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (Pre-Employment Pipe-Trades Training Program): $1,205,475
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Christian Labour Association of Canada (Train to Employment Program): $796,500
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Electrical Industry Training Centres of Alberta (Pre-Apprenticeship Candidate Training Program): $626,940
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Lethbridge College - Centre for Trades (STEM Program): $1,385,500
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Momentum Community Economic Development Society (Women and Self-identified LGBTQ2S+ Participants Program): $727,282
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NAIT (Pre-Apprenticeship Accelerated Trade Entry Program): $1,500,000
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SAIT (Youth Exploring Skilled Trades Pathway Program): $757,000
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The Educational Partnership Foundation (Trades Careers Program - Indigenous Partnerships): $1,109,700
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Women Building Futures (Women and the Emerging Energy Future Program): $840,000
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Skills Canada-Alberta (Try-A-Trade® Takeout and Skills Exploration Days Programs): $4,302,737
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CAREERS: The Next Generation (High School Integration for Work Integrated Learning): $1,260,000