As Alberta’s population continues to rise, so does the demand for new housing, infrastructure, and skilled professionals to build it all. Those of us in this sector are keenly aware that the province’s booming construction industry urgently needs more workers, and fortunately, more women are stepping up to fill these essential roles over time. This shift comes at a fitting moment in Canada as appreciation for, and awareness of, women in the trades is gaining momentum. Last week marked both the 116th International Women’s Day as well as the newer Women in Construction Week™, or WIC Week™. The week utilizes presentations, awards, social media, and events to shed light on women’s success stories and initiatives within the construction industry internationally. SAIT’s Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) Committee, Women Building Futures programming, The Office to Advance Women Apprentices Alberta, NAIT’s Women Leading and Building Canada’s Future program, and BTA’s Build Together: Women of the Alberta Building Trades are all excellent examples of local efforts to support more women entering, training, and thriving in the skilled trades. You can also check out our website for more helpful resources Although currently fewer than 10% of workers on-site are female, this number is

Last week, the Alberta Government released their 2025-2026 budget called Meeting the Challenge. Alberta’s Budget 2025 aims to address the province’s challenges, including economic uncertainties due to volatile oil prices, potential U.S. tariffs, and rising pressure on public services from increased population growth. Budget 2025 focuses on both immediate relief for residents and long-term economic stability, while carefully managing fiscal health. The total revenue forecast for 2025-26 is $74 billion, a decrease of $6.6 billion from the 2024-25 third-quarter forecast of $81 billion. The revenue forecast reflects economic volatility and uncertainties related to potential tariffs and trade conflicts with the U.S. Operating expenses are forecasted to increase by 3.6%, or $2.2 billion, in 2025-26, primarily to support areas such as health, education, disability supports, and affordable housing. The CLRA welcomes the government’s focus in the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan to support skilled trades education, training, and apprenticeship opportunities. Included in this budget are: $78 million to add more seats in apprenticeship classes across Alberta. $113 million for scholarships and the Alberta Student Grant. $4 million to First Nations Colleges Grant for colleges in rural, Indigenous communities. $135 million to skilled trades programs (apprenticeship delivery, grants, adult learning initiatives) each year with

Alberta needs more tradespeople – from all walks of life. In 2015, Construction Labour Relations Alberta (CLRA) alongside the Building Trades of Alberta (BTA) created the Workforce Development Trust (WFDT) when both groups recognized this need to invest in programs that grow, train, and support the province’s construction workforce. Since then, 2 cents for every hour worked by skilled trades construction contractors under CLRA/BTA/GPMC collective agreements have been donated to the Trust, summing over $4 million in contributions to date. Over the past decade, these funds have been donated to various beneficiaries including Helmets to Hardhats Canada, Trade Winds to Success, and Women Building Futures; all organizations that help equip, educate, and assist Albertans entering trades careers. A significant partner of CLRA’s in this venture is The Educational Partnership Foundation (TEPF), an Alberta-based charity known for exposing hundreds of thousands of students to their literacy and trades careers programming every year. Besides offering bursaries to financially support students in their apprenticeship journeys, they provide two streams of specialized trades career support: one for high school students broadly, and the other for Indigenous Canadians more specifically. Indigenous students entered in these Trades Careers programs receive comprehensive training both on and off