Trade Winds to Success, an organization which launched in 2005, is a place where Indigenous people can receive free pre-apprenticeship training in a chosen trade.

Since then, over 2,300 people across Alberta have taken training for different careers—like boilermaker, carpenter, construction craft labourer, electrician, ironworker, industrial mechanic (millwright), plumber, steamfitter-pipefitter, and welder.

Roberta Giroux is the apprenticeship retention coordinator and employer relations coordinator at Trade Winds as well as a journeyman electrician. She shared what new applicants can expect when they join the program of their choice.

Roberta Giroux, apprenticeship retention coordinator and employer relations coordinator at Trade Winds. (Photo Credits - Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Giroux says that in the pre-pandemic times, the organization saw intake numbers sitting at 240. The number of Trade Winds intakes today is around 140 per graduation class in both the Edmonton and the Calgary locations.

One of the programs within Trade Winds is the newly-launched Residential Construction Program. Giroux says that with this program, the success rate is at 100 percent employment to date.

Students in the Residential Constriction Program at Trade Winds to Success. (Photo Credits - Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Giroux says that she’s happy she’s able to give back to her community with her experience in the electrician trade and to help the next generation of Indigenous peoples start in their chosen career paths.

One of the new applicants that is joining Trade Winds is Monica Loreen Dillon, who is both excited to join the program and begin her journey with Trade Winds.

New applicant Monica Loreen Dillion in Trade Winds to Success (Photo Credits - Daniel Barker-Tremblay)

Do you have a story idea? Email me at daniel@windspeakermedia.com

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