INNOVATIVE TRADES AND SKILLS CENTRE PROGRAM BENEFITS REGINA STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS

Deputy Premier and Education Minister Ken Krawetz and Social Services and Housing Minister Donna Harpauer were joined by students from the Regina Trades and Skills Centre, representatives of Habitat for Humanity, Regina-area home builders and industry representatives for a first look at a unique construction site where high school students are building a home in Regina's North Central neighbourhood.

"The Regina Trades and Skills Centre offers recognized trades and skills training programs for both high school students and young adults based on the specific skilled labour needs of Regina area employers," Krawetz said. "We have heard from industry that we need to provide increased trades career options for high school students, as well. The new Trades and Skills Construction Apprenticeship Program supports trades and skills training for high school students who will have the opportunity to work on new home construction, from the foundation to the roof."

The innovative partnership between the Regina Trades and Skills Centre and Habitat for Humanity will be expanded to allow three homes to be completed during 2008-09 and another five homes to be built in 2009-10. A teacher and an assistant from the school system together with a construction foreman for Habitat for Humanity work with the students to support them in developing their house building skills. Students who complete this program will receive their high school credits as well as post secondary and apprenticeship recognition that will position them to move into a career in the trades upon graduation from high school.

"I chose the Trades and Skills Construction Apprenticeship Program as not only an excellent opportunity to further my knowledge in construction, it places me on the fast track to my chosen career in architecture," Regina Trades and Skills Centre student Bailey Lothian said.

Based on information from Regina and area employers on acute labour market needs for skilled workers, industry specific programming for young adults through the Regina Trades and Skills Centre has included plumbing, painting, framing, roofing, drywall, steel studding, commercial construction, road construction, flooring and culinary arts. Accredited courses are provided through partnerships with Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Dumont Technical Institute and Saskatchewan Tourism Education Council and include workplace essential skills, specific job entry trades skills and work experience opportunities.

Upcoming January programs for young adults include masonry and commercial construction. In the new year, high school students will have access to the expanded Construction Apprenticeship Program as well as skilled trades training in the culinary arts and construction worker preparation.

"The number one issue in the business community today is the availability of labour," Regina and District Chamber of Commerce's CEO John Hopkins said. "We are pleased to be part of the Regina Trades and Skills Centre which seeks to match skills training with industry needs."

"The partnership between the Regina Trades and Skills Centre and Habitat for Humanity benefits not just students and employers but also will give Regina-area families more housing opportunities," Harpauer said. "This program is a great example of how people can work together to change lives in so many positive ways."

The Regina Trades and Skills Centre is led by a multiparty partnership that includes representatives from the industry, secondary and post secondary education institutions, community and all levels of government. For more information on the Regina Trades and Skills Centre or to learn more about upcoming programs, please visit the website at http://www.reginatradesandskills.ca/.

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For more information, contact:

Jacquie McLean
Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5609
Email: jacquie.mclean@gov.sk.ca