NEW: Trades Careers Program
Meeting An Urgent Need
There is an urgent need for skilled trades professionals. The trades landscape has changed, with baby boomers reaching retirement age and new energies and technologies that require new skills. In addition, the high school graduation rate in Alberta remains at the bottom end of the national scale.
What if…
In response to this need, TEPF, with support from Building Trades of Alberta and Alberta Education, created the Trades and Climate Change Education Program.
What is the Trades Careers (formerly the Trade and Climate Change Program) Program?
The Trades Careers Program provides hands-on learning at an off-campus location in first-class facilities taught by red seal journeymen instructors in the construction trades. These single semester, 125-hour programs work uniquely for each school district and training facility, with the option to be tailored to a half-day or full day course. The training is offered at fully equipped local Building Trades of Alberta union training facilities with a 12 to 18 students per class.
We launched a pilot project with the Calgary Board of Education in 2013 in partnership with The Plumbers & Pipefitters Union, Local 496, and expanded to Ironworkers Local 725 in Calgary in 2014. In spring of 2017, a dedicated Wind Turbine course was put on by Local 725 in Lethbridge. The pilot projects have been extremely successful in job placements, resulting in nearly 75% of students enrolled now working as apprentices in their chosen trades.
In 2020 TEPF continues to deliver the Trades Careers program across Alberta while working to secure new locations and types of trades offered. We have expanded into Edmonton, and also launched our first Indigenous program at the Piikani Reserve. We have introduced Carpentry, Electrical, and even Culinary trade programs. With the support from our stakeholders we will continue to look to expand into different markets with brand new trade careers.
Talk to us today about bringing Trades Careers education to your school.