Alberta increases funding for apprenticeship partners
Alberta aims to reverse the recent decline of apprenticeship numbers
Alberta government officials try their hand at welding. – Province of Alberta
Key Takeaways:
- The $15 million will be spent on 12 new and existing partnerships over the next three years.
- The funding comes after a recent report showed a 35 per cent decline in apprenticeship enrolment over the past five years in the province.
- The news brings total new funding for apprenticeship education to $30 million over the next three years.
The Whole Story:
Alberta is looking to boost apprenticeship with a series of new training partnerships.
The province will spend $15 million over the next three years to fund 12 new and existing community partnerships.
Officials stated that 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. Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education. “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.
Community Partner Grants and funding amounts:
Alberta Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund (Pre-Apprenticeship Gladiator Program, Recruitment & Marketing Strategy): $488,866
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (Pre-Employment Pipe-Trades Training Program): $1,205,475
Christian Labour Association of Canada (Train to Employment Program): $796,500
Electrical Industry Training Centres of Alberta (Pre-Apprenticeship Candidate Training Program): $626,940
Lethbridge College – Centre for Trades (STEM Program): $1,385,500
Momentum Community Economic Development Society (Women and Self-identified LGBTQ2S+ Participants Program): $727,282
NAIT (Pre-Apprenticeship Accelerated Trade Entry Program): $1,500,000
SAIT (Youth Exploring Skilled Trades Pathway Program): $757,000
The Educational Partnership Foundation (Trades Careers Program – Indigenous Partnerships): $1,109,700
Women Building Futures (Women and the Emerging Energy Future Program): $840,000
Skills Canada-Alberta (Try-A-Trade Takeout and Skills Exploration Days Programs): $4,302,737
CAREERS: The Next Generation (High School Integration for Work Integrated Learning): $1,260,000
