Indigenous trades school gets $5M commitment from Ottawa

The federal government has announced $5 million in funding to train Indigenous apprentices.

The federal government on Wednesday announced almost $1 million a year for the next five years for the Trade Winds to Success Training Society, an Indigenous pre-trades school in Edmonton.

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The school’s executive director estimated the funding will train about 290 Red Seal apprentice carpenters, electricians, mechanics, welders and more.

“I think with the skill shortage we have, especially in Alberta, this program is integral to building the workforce. Indigenous people are ready to become an active member of the Alberta workforce and this is one way they’re able to do that,” Shannon McCarthy told CTV News Edmonton after a news conference at Trade Winds on Wednesday.

Students finish the Trade Winds program as registered unsponsored apprentices and so can be hired by the school’s partners as first-year apprentices, as opposed to labourers.

“This program absolutely works,” said Starla Jackknife, a second-year apprentice carpenter who works as an interior finishing carpenter in Edmonton.

“They teach you how to properly use the tools. They provide you with your own PPE. They put you through the appropriate safety ticket training. They tutor you in math and science so you can pass you (Apprenticeship and Industry Training exam) at NAIT. They even do mock interviews to prepare you for your first job interview after graduation. So the training here is really well rounded.”

The money is being provided through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, a $48.8-million investment plan in projects, like the Net Zero Residential Construction Project, that support trades related to home building.

Canada is aiming to build 3.87 million new homes by 2031.

“It’s clear we need workers. We need them quickly and targeted investments like these ones that bring the talent our sectors need, that open doors to opportunities, will help us build the homes our communities expect,” said Steven MacKinnon, Canada’s employment minister.

“It’s about meeting the moment. It’s about making sure that the employers in this room, the unions in this room, can have amazing Indigenous talent ready to work and build up our communities at a moment’s notice because you’ve been trained in the right way at the right time,” echoed Edmonton Centre MP Randy Boissonnault.