Alberta’s government is investing more than $1.5 million over three years to help Indigenous students meet Alberta’s residential construction demand.
As Alberta’s economy continues to grow, so does the need for skilled trades people, and that demand is expected to continue to rise over the next decade. Meeting the needs of industry and maximizing opportunities for Albertans means promoting and supporting trades education to all communities, including Indigenous people.
Alberta’s government is supporting Trade Winds to Success with an investment of $1,507,263 over three years, beginning in 2024-25. Trade Winds to Success is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization, which helps Indigenous students train for rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
“Trade Winds to Success has an impressive history of helping Indigenous students discover new career opportunities in the skilled trades, overcome barriers to education and thrive in the workplace. Supporting Trade Winds is a win-win for Indigenous workers and Alberta’s economy,” says Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education.
Through partnerships with Alberta’s government, Union Training Trusts, employers, and the Indigenous community, Trade Winds to Success has helped to increase the number of Indigenous people training and working in the skilled trades, with more than 3,000 individuals supported since 2005.
This new funding will support Trade Winds to Success’s operations so they can deliver valuable programming, including their Residential Construction Program. Students in this program take foundational courses for six weeks, followed by 12 weeks of hands-on training where they learn techniques to construct eco-smart small homes for Indigenous community members. Upon completing the program, students receive 330 hours towards their first year in Alberta’s carpenter apprenticeship education program.
The Residential Construction Program is expected to enrol 156 participants over three years. This investment will help address labour needs in the province, while empowering Indigenous students to find rewarding careers as they help build their communities and the economy. Alberta’s government continues to support Indigenous Peoples and all Albertans in meeting the economic needs of today and tomorrow.
