In support of Canada’s National Housing strategy and to encourage more people to join the trades, the Federal Government announced an investment of 5 million dollars towards the Trade Winds to Success Training Society to train more than 290 Indigenous Red Seal apprentices.
Funded under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the Towards Net Zero Residential Construction project will enable Indigenous apprentices to develop Red Seal trade skills that support the transition to a clean economy and reduce environmental impacts.
Trade Winds to Success will help apprentices succeed in their training by addressing barriers to getting into the trades, completing their training, and finding and keeping jobs in the skilled trades. Participants will also improve the essential skills needed in trades training so they can pass the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training entrance exam successfully.
Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour spoke with CFWE, saying it’s inspiring to see the young women in the construction trades to fill the need for more workers in the field and to meet the demand for new housing.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon (Photo Credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)
Minister MacKinnon speaks on the example that Trade Winds to Success sets of First Nations and Indigenous communities to inspire and create more spaces to capitalize on training facilities and the knowledge of the construction fields will multiply across the country to other provinces.
Shannon McCarthy, Executive Director with Trade Winds to Success Training Society speaks on her excitement from the 5 million dollar investment, which will allow more work in providing pre-trades training to Indigenous people in Alberta.
Shannon McCarthy, Executive Director with Trade Winds to Success Training Society (Photo Credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)
McCarthy adds that the goal is to train over 290 Indigenous Red Seal Apprentices in the Construction trade, with celebrating 20 years of providing training, Trade Winds looks to expand further in the future.
To date, Trade Winds to Success donated ‘In Kind Homes’ to Bigstone Cree Nation, Gift Lake Metis Settlement, Little Red River Cree Nation. Along with outreach programs to nations and settlements to provide the Residential Construction Program in Lethbridge, Sturgeon Lake, Grande Prairie with Western Cree Tribal Council, and future plans with Tssu’T’ina and Siksika.
McCarthy says that the 5 million dollar donation is not only an impact on the students at Trade Winds to Success, but it will cause a ripple effect for students to have on their contributions towards their communities going forward.
