Today, the Government of Alberta announced their investment of $300,000 in Helmets to Hardhats, a non-profit organization that finds good quality opportunities in the unionized construction industry for serving, transitioning and former military members. Construction Labour Relations Alberta, one of HTH’s founding members, is proud to support our Canadian Armed Forces veterans, reservists, and military families as they transition into rewarding careers in the skilled trades.
This one-time grant will help veterans access the Helmets to Hardhats Skilled Pathway program, which offers apprenticeship education, safety certification, personal protective equipment, and employment referrals, all while preparing participants for both entry-level and supervisory positions in Alberta’s trades. With Alberta’s economy growing and diversifying, this program creates new career opportunities, supports veterans in their post-service lives, and helps meet the province’s labour needs.
We agree with Minister of Advanced Education Rajan Sawhney – instrumental in this investment decision – who recently expressed, “Our veterans’ dedication will translate seamlessly into successful careers in the trades, and we are proud to open new doors for them.”
Alberta’s unionized contractors, along with Ontario, are the largest recipients for veterans transitioning from the military to construction. Since the program started in 2012, they have placed over 2500 veterans into construction trade jobs.
Read the full announcement here.