OPEN OPPORTUNITY // TRAINING & EDUCATION
OPEN OPPORTUNITY NEW LEGISLATION MODERNIZES, EXPANDS AND STREAMLINES ALBERTA’S APPRENTICESHIP AND SKILLED TRADES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING BY NATALIE NOBLE
T
here’s no denying it, the world as we knew it three decades ago is a vastly changed place today. In Alberta, skilled trades and apprenticeship programming has long contributed as a massive economic driver to the economy, but the legislation regulating it was over 30 years old. That’s why the Alberta Government, post-secondary institutions, and industry partners across the province have collaborated to modernize apprenticeship education. It’s an industry that’s expected to see critical demand in coming years, but also offer rewarding career opportunities. “Working in the skilled trades is a great place to be and find meaningful employment,” says Jim Szautner, dean of the School of Manufacturing and Automation and the School of Transportation at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). “We’re seeing many more mature
40
NOVEMBER 2021 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
“WORKING IN THE SKILLED TRADES IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE AND FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT,” SAYS SZAUTNER. “WE’RE SEEING MANY MORE MATURE LEARNERS COMING INTO THE SKILLED TRADES AS WELL AS PEOPLE PIVOTING AND TRANSITIONING CAREERS WITH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMMING TO IMPROVE THEIR STANDARD OF LIVING.”
