CALGARY, Alberta — Alberta’s government is investing $6 million over three years to support the next generation of skilled trades workers with the launch of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre.

The industry-led initiative will offer junior high and high school students hands-on exposure to careers in the skilled trades before they graduate. Set to open this fall, the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre will provide a dedicated, professional space where students can explore construction trades, learn directly from experienced tradespeople and discover what they are good at and what they enjoy, helping them make informed choices about high school courses, post-secondary pathways and future careers.

“Alberta’s prosperity depends on a strong, skilled workforce,” said Myles McDougall, Alberta’s minister of advanced education. “The Alberta Trades Discovery Centre will help students see the real opportunities available in the trades, while complementing the world-class training offered by our post-secondary institutions.”

The Alberta Trades Discovery Centre will be governed by a board with representatives from Alberta’s construction sector, including the Alberta Construction Association, Building Trades of Alberta, Construction Labour Relations Alberta, and OpenCircle.

“This is a professional environment where experiences are developed and facilitated directly by seasoned trades professionals,” said Warren Singh, board chair of the Alberta Trades Discovery Centre and executive director of the Alberta Construction Association. “By proving this concept in Calgary, we are building a sustainable model that honors the dignity of the trades and empowers young Albertans to build both our province and their own successful futures.”

Alberta’s industrial, commercial and institutional construction sector employs more than 250,000 people. It is estimated that the sector will require more than 59,000 additional workers in the next decade.