Calgary 
Alberta’s government has committed $43 million for the planning of a new Advanced Skills Centre at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), which aims to train 4,200 additional apprentices each year.
Credit: Anamul Rezwan/Pexels
The forthcoming Advanced Skills Centre will provide cutting-edge training across four vital sectors: construction, transportation, manufacturing, and energy. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to be a leader in apprenticeship and technology-based education globally, enhancing Alberta’s capacity in these crucial industries.
Rajan Sawhney, the Minister of Advanced Education, noted, “Alberta is setting a benchmark in skills and trades education. This facility will not only increase the number of skilled workers in essential sectors but also promote innovation across northern Alberta and beyond.”
The planning phase will set the stage for construction to begin in 2025, adding over 640,000 square feet of advanced learning spaces at NAIT’s main campus.
“This funding from Alberta’s government acknowledges the crucial role of skilled trades in the economy and NAIT’s role in delivering apprenticeship education that is essential for our province’s prosperity,” said Laura Jo Gunter, president and CEO, NAIT.
The centre will not only replace outdated facilities—some over 60 years old—but also provide a platform for the introduction of new programs and expansion of existing ones, keeping pace with the ever-changing labor market.
Alberta says this initiative addresses the current shortage of skilled trades workers in the province, a gap that is impacting the cost of living and leaving critical job vacancies.
