Literacy

Literacy Program

We believe literacy is a basic human right for every Canadian, and it is our duty to support our youth to increase opportunities for their future success.

Beyond its importance as part of the right to education, literacy improves lives by expanding capabilities which in turn reduces poverty, increases participation in the labour market and has positive effects on health and sustainable development. By empowering our youth, we create a ripple effect on our society that will have a lasting effect on the world as a whole.

The need for books sometimes takes a back seat to groceries, rent, winter boots and other house bills. The statistic is sad, but with one in four Canadian households without a book, we hope you’ll consider donating to our Give the Gift of Literacy campaign. Your donation will be matched by the Calgary Flames Foundation, doubling your personal impact. With this match, even your $60 donation will get books into the hands of four students who need them.

Young girl reading and becoming literate

Children in the library being read to - literacy

Books for Kids in 2022

Youth motivated by Reading Give it a Shot! in 2022

Youth motivated by Reading Give it a Shot! since 1995

Reading…Give it a Shot

‘Reading… Give it a Shot’ is our longest running program and provides reading motivation for youth from first to sixth grade. Participants earn collector cards for logging reading minutes from editions such as Canadian Wildlife, Species at Risk, and Calgary Flames. Our cards provide youth with the incentive to develop their literacy skills!

Books for Kids

We are strengthening our literacy program by adding the donation of books to select schools in Alberta. With the addition of this program, we have increased our impact on literacy levels by providing children with all the tools they need to elevate their literacy skills and discover the joy of reading.

Who benefits from this program?

Students

A unique and outstanding student learning experience
Opportunity to explore the possibility of apprenticeships in the trades
Summer job placements for successful candidates through the Registered Apprenticeship Program
Work ready for full time employment

Schools

Government

Corporations

Society

How it works

As part of the solution to the skilled trades shortage, Building Trades of Alberta affiliates are providing the use of their world-class, multi-million dollar training facilities as well as the red seal journeymen trainers to educate students. Participating high schools will allow students who meet the following criteria to take the course:

Grades 11 & 12 or 16 years or older
Punctual, responsible and reliable
Drug and alcohol free
Meet the prerequisite requirements:
- Completed HCS 3000, HCS 3010 and Construction Safety Training Systems [CSTS] (available through their high school)
- Steel-toed boots
- Provide their own transportation to and from the training facility
- Provide consent from parent or guardian

My last semester of high school is coming to an end, the months pass so quickly because I love what I am doing. Graduation is coming up in less than two weeks and I'll be graduated and working full time by June 17th and I don't feel the stress to get life together as I know I'll be ready for a life time career. On behalf of the CBE and the Local 496 I would like to say a grateful thank you for the experience you have offered me, and all the students of the future who may be my co-workers or union members. I have offered my time to share the opportunity I was given and accomplished, because I want future generations of students to know about this experience. I would like to thank the Local 496 for introducing students to a real world training experience that will be guaranteed to lead to a career opportunity. "

The good people at The Educational Partnership Foundation are compassionate and hardworking and strongly support programs like the Piikani Introduction to Trades Program. Our partnership with TEPF makes important programs like these possible. We at Ironworkers Local 725 feel that bringing trades training to first nation communities is a very important endeavor. Achieving Journeyperson status in a trade is an amazing accomplishment that comes with a lifetime of employability as well as pride.

In the last three years Cody has come out of his shell. He has for the first time become involved in his school and participates in extracurricular activities. Cody now enjoys learning, has no struggles with going to school and is able to advocate for himself due to the confidence that the Ironworkers and RAP have given him. Cody has never been so happy and excited about his future. Thanks to RAP, Cody is on track to completing High School early and is counting down the days till he has accomplished this so he can return to work full time.

Watch Brandon's Story

Brandon was not thriving in High School until he was introduced to the new Trades and Climate Change Program being delivered by TEPF. In partnership with Building Trades of Alberta, Workforce Development Trust and the Alberta Government, this program takes students off-site to first class Union facilities where they are taught by Red Seal Journeymen.

Thank you to our sponsors who support Trades Careers Education and its goals:

TEPF could not help as many students as it does without the continued support of our business partners. As a non-profit organization, TEPF prides itself on the strong relationships it develops with companies, organizations, and individuals, and serves as an essential link between their generosity and the students.