Trades education program aims to change perceptions, build future workforce [Video]

An Ontario-based non-profit organization is working with Alberta school boards to change the perception of trades careers and build a pipeline of future skilled workers in this province.

The “Honour the Work” program, founded by Angela Coldwell and her husband Tim, brings hands-on construction and trades education to elementary school students across the province.

“We really want to bring back the normalization that these careers are incredibly honourable and vital and essential,” Coldwell said.

“These are skilled careers with people who are simultaneously thinking with heads and hands and creating something from raw materials that wasn’t there previously.”

The program, which has distributed 810 kits across Alberta, aims to address the looming shortage of skilled trades workers.

The “Honour the Work” program, founded by Angela Coldwell and her husband Tim, brings hands-on construction and trades education to elementary school students across the province.

RBC predicts a shortage of 700,000 skilled …