NLSD Celebrates Trades Exposure Grand Opening

On Friday, Northern Lights officially unveiled its Trades Exposure Centre, a $4-million facility that will offer innovative trades training opportunities to high school students throughout Alberta.

Centrally located, in Bonnyville – the home of many oilfield service companies in North Eastern Alberta – the Trades Exposure Centre currently consists of a service rig (Aurora #69)  on a safe well, classroom space and a scaffolding shop. The shop includes additional space for other trades-related programming to be offered as the Division’s Trades Exposure Program and its partnerships continue to grow.

The Northern Lights Trades Exposure Centre will engage our students in hands-on learning opportunities that will provide them with the skills and experience they need to pursue careers in the trades. This project is an excellent example of what we can achieve when we work together to meet the needs of our students and our communities. It would not be possible without the collaboration of all of our stakeholders – students, parents, industry, our education partners, our Indigenous communities, and our federal, provincial and municipal governments. – Arlene Hrynyk NLSD Board Chair

Northern Lights is fortunate to have received support from more than 40 different partners to help establish the Northern Lights Trades Exposure Centre and its programming.

Friday’s Grand Opening ceremonies included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Northern Lights and Seven Lakes Oilfield Services Ltd. Seven Lakes will play an integral role in the development and delivery of the scaffolding curriculum that will be offered at the Centre.

The Government of Canada is proud of its involvement in the establishment of the Trades Exposure Centre with the Northern Lights School Division No. 69. This initiative is responding to the needs of community youth and adult learners by helping them obtain training, skills development and a greater awareness of the opportunities available to them in the skilled trades. – The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada

Northern Lights is also pleased to announce that it has formed new partnerships with the Tribal Chiefs Employment and Training Services Association, North East Alberta Apprenticeship Initiative and Trade Winds to Success Training Society. These partnerships will allow the Centre to expand its services beyond training high school students. Apprentices in a variety of trades will be able to access training opportunities at the Centre, helping to create a highly skilled workforce in our communities.

The Town of Bonnyville is elated at the accomplishment of working together with industry and Northern Lights School Division to provide this exciting opportunity for our youth and exposing them to the oilfield trades. It’s a fantastic opportunity for our youth and a shining example of being able to look outside the box and provide the services students need as opposed to the standardized curriculum. Well done and congratulations. – Gene Sobolewski Mayor of Bonnyville

For more on the Trades Exposure Program, as well as information on sponsors & partners, visit Northern Lights School Division online nlsd.ab.ca.  PrPress Release provided by Northern Lights School Division.