EDMONTON, Alberta — Alberta’s government is supporting Trade Winds to Success with an investment of $1,507,263 over three years, beginning in 2024-25. Trade Winds to Success is an Indigenous-led non-profit organization, which helps Indigenous students train for rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

Through partnerships with Alberta’s government, Union Training Trusts, employers, and the Indigenous community, Trade Winds to Success has helped to increase the number of Indigenous people training and working in the skilled trades, with more than 3,000 individuals supported since 2005.

This new funding will support Trade Winds to Success’s operations so it can deliver valuable programming, including its Residential Construction Program. Students in this program take foundational courses for six weeks, followed by 12 weeks of hands-on training where they learn techniques to construct eco-smart small homes for Indigenous community members. Upon completing the program, students receive 330 hours towards their first year in Alberta’s carpenter apprenticeship education program.

The Residential Construction Program is expected to enroll 156 participants over three years. This investment will help address labor needs in the province, while empowering Indigenous students to find rewarding careers as they help build their communities and the economy.

“The multi-year funding announcement from the Ministry of Advanced Education is the perfect demonstration of reconciliation in action,” said Linda Domak, president of the board of directors, Trade Winds to Success. “Access to operational dollars not only allows us to address core needs but it also allows us to build capacity and plan for the future. Through quality pre-trades training, we can continue empowering the next generation of tradespeople while finding new ways to support their goals.”

“Trade Winds to Success has an impressive history of helping Indigenous students to discover new career opportunities in the skilled trades, overcome barriers to education and thrive in the workplace,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education. “Supporting Trade Winds is a win-win for Indigenous workers and Alberta’s economy.”