Lethbridge College will be helping to support newcomers interested in trades after a $300,000 Settlement, Integration and Language Projects (SLIP) grant.
The college is the first southern Alberta post-secondary institution to be awarded SLIP grant.
The grant is awarded by Alberta’s Ministry of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism and the funding supports projects that work to strengthen a diverse and inclusive workforce by helping communities to attract, welcome and retain newcomers.
A customized 15-week program will be focusing on building professional, technical, communication and occupation-specific skills that are needed to enter and succeed in the labour force.
Kevin Smith, Dean for the Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences, says “The type of training offered in this program could make all the difference for newcomers to southern Alberta who are looking for employment in southern Alberta’s trades and manufacturing sectors.”
“Thanks to SLIP, we can utilize our world-class facilities for trades and apprenticeship training and English language teaching to offer a program that will give newcomers the skills they need to be successful, while helping to address labour shortages in multiple industries.”
The SLIP grant will help to provide program funding for three groups—up to 72 people— over a two-year period. this will include an Introduction to Trades course which combines online knowledge-based work with hands-on learning.
Once students have completed the program, they will have the standard skills and knowledge required to pass Alberta’s Apprenticeship and Industry Training entrance exam that can help further their education in a specific trade. These graduates will also have the resources and knowledge to secure and retain employment in general trades or manufacture sector.