EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Jim Prentice says a new pilot project will help more than 600 aboriginal people train for jobs in construction.
Prentice says the province will contribute $1 million toward new construction training centres at NorQuest College in Edmonton and Bow Valley College in Calgary.
The two-year project will deliver career counselling and construction-related training for more than 300 students at each school.
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The colleges will invest $525,000, with another $750,000 coming from industry and aboriginal groups.
“The Alberta Aboriginal Construction Career Centre will fill a gap in connecting Aboriginal job seekers directly with the construction industry,” said Sharon Carry, president of Bow Valley College.
“Through fast, focused interventions, such as job preparation and skills training, these centres will play an important role in helping to address projected skilled labour shortages in the construction industry and connect Aboriginal peoples to well-paying jobs.”
Prentice says the program is key to helping more aboriginals contribute to and benefit from Alberta’s economy.
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