This release was issued under a previous government.
Sixty-six individuals from across the province – many of whom scored top marks while completing their apprenticeship training programs – will be presented with awards from the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Board.
“These awards show the value and importance of the skilled trades to our province. Recognizing these outstanding accomplishments reinforces the impact apprentices, trades professionals, employers, instructors and members of industry have on developing tomorrow’s skilled trades workforce while enhancing Alberta’s world-class apprenticeship and industry training system.”
“This special recognition program celebrates the extraordinary achievements of apprentices and the many individuals who guide and mentor them, and help them on their path to success.”
The awards recognize individuals in the following categories:
Top Apprentice Award
Apprentices begin their path to becoming a certified tradesperson by choosing a trade and finding an employer willing to hire and train them. This year’s awards honour 60 apprentices who earned the top marks in their respective trades for the previous academic year.
Top Instructor Award (North and South)
This award goes to instructors who deliver an exceptional level of training to apprentices. This year’s recipients are Craig Rode, a parts technician instructor from Grande Prairie Regional College and Rysen Jordan, an electrician instructor from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT).
Top Employer Award (North and South)
This award goes to employers that provide opportunities to help apprentices develop the skills required of their trades. This year’s recipients are Whitecourt-based Alberta Newsprint Company and Airdrie-based Propak Systems Ltd.
Top Employer of Aboriginal Apprentices Award
This award goes to an employer that helps to strengthen and diversify Alberta’s apprenticeship and industry training system through a commitment to recruiting and training Aboriginal apprentices. This year’s recipient is Aseniwuche Development Corporation in Grande Cache.
Special Recognition Award
The award goes to someone who has proven to be an exceptional supporter of apprenticeship training. This year’s recipient is Vivian Haland, who served as executive director for the Southeast Alberta Partners for Youth Career Development, a partner organization of CAREERS: The Next Generation.
Apprenticeship combines on-the-job learning with post-secondary technical training. Last year, there were more than 65,000 apprentices registered in Alberta.
For more information on the awards, including the names and home towns of this year’s top apprentices, visit the Tradesecrets website.