Red Deer Polytechnic and NOVA Chemicals have announced the Central Alberta Trades Strategy to address demand for skilled trades professionals while reducing barriers to education. The strategy proposes several core initiatives that would expand access to skilled trades training, including regional training hubs and satellite access points; modular and stackable credentials; and coordinated ecosystem governance across postsecondary institutions, employers, K–12 schools, and municipalities. “While Alberta’s trades model leads Canada in training, there are still issues surrounding access, pathways, learner completion, and employer access,” said RDP VP Academic and Student Experience Lindsay Engel. “This strategy speaks to both the urgency of these challenges and the opportunity ahead.”
