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CLRA Congratulates Honorary NAIT Graduate, Trades Trailblazer Carol Moen

CLRA congratulates NAIT’s recent honorary Bachelor of Technology in Management recipient Carol Moen. Considered to be NAIT’s highest form of recognition, honorary degrees are awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions to their field, community, or society through a lifetime of service and a commitment to bettering the world. Carol is a prime example of someone who has done so in Alberta’s construction sphere. She spent decades building her engineering career in leadership positions with Dow Canada, followed by making history as the first female Registrar of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Two years after retirement, she found herself drawn back to the workforce – this time, as President and CEO for Women Building Futures (WBF), a non-profit dedicated to helping women achieve economic prosperity through trades training and mentorship. Over the next six years, Carol was instrumental to the growth and accomplishments of WBF. More than 1,000 women graduated from its programs during her tenure, gaining the support, technical expertise, and confidence they needed to enter careers in construction and other traditionally male-dominated industries. In 2023-24 alone, 284 women completed programming – the most in the organization’s history – and WBF continues to see

June 25, 2025

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Learn about diversity in the trades:
WorkAlbertaTrades.org/Todays-New-Workforce

CLRA Teaming Up with the Edmonton Elks

Here’s why you should consider the trades:
WorkAlbertaTrades.org/Education-Tools-for-Trades

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Canadians are moving to Alberta in droves. How affordable is the province for homebuyers?

A recent report by Re/Max Canada continues to showcase that Alberta’s favourable tax environment and lower housing prices are attracting a rising number of Canadians – particularly from provinces like Ontario and British Columbia – to settle out West. The report found that tax rate increases, record-high housing values, and mortgage rates have led to a post-pandemic exodus from the country’s most expensive markets, with a significant uptick in interprovincial migration to Alberta. Specifically, Alberta welcomed a little over 45,000 people last year, doubling the numbers seen in 2022 according to Statistics Canada. The highest influx of new Albertans in the third quarter came from Ontario, followed by B.C., Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. This trend of West-bound migration isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon. CLRA is working in partnership with the province to attract skilled workers to address the labour demands for our growing economy. We hope that our upcoming education-focused campaign will encourage more Albertan youth – as well as adults changing careers – to consider pursuing the trades for long-term, well-paying, meaningful work. Read the full National Post article here.

March 1, 2024

Construction Boot Camp

Women Building Futures is offering a free, 4-week Construction Bootcamp in Calgary this spring from April 8 until May 3. This program presents an excellent opportunity for women in search of promising career opportunities in the ever-growing construction and maintenance industries. Students will receive basic safety certifications, learn how to read blueprints, and get hands-on skills training, amongst other relevant workplace skills. Financial aid, mentorship opportunities, and connections to future employers are additional benefits. Graduates will be interviewed for entry-level roles with program partners, and thus likely to secure relevant employment opportunities upon graduation. The deadline to apply is Feb. 29. Learn more about the program and how to register here: https://womenbuildingfutures.ca/programs/construction-bootcamp/

February 27, 2024

Government Support For More Apprenticeship Seats

Alberta has announced significant support for the skilled trades sector today in a pre-budget news release indicating the government will create 3,200 additional apprenticeship seats at 11 post-secondary institutions across the province. These additional spaces are much needed to address the ever-growing industry demand for skilled workers in our economy. Today’s announcement by Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney would see the government invest an additional $24 million per year over the next three years. This brings the total funding for apprenticeship training to $78 million for the 2024-25 academic year. With a significant portion of Alberta’s skilled tradespeople entering retirement in the coming 5-10 years, the need to train and employ thousands of new apprentices is more urgent than ever, particularly as the provincial population continues to grow. The CLRA agrees with Minister Sawhney of Advanced Education: “Investing in apprenticeship education will supply Albertans with in-demand skills, nurture homegrown talent and support our labour market with world-class skilled tradespeople who keep our economy moving.” CLRA is doing our part to address this issue with by encouraging students to consider a career in skilled trades through our WorkAlbertaTrades.org and #BuildYourFuture public education campaign. Read the government’s full announcement here.

February 23, 2024

Excerpt: Board Chair's New Year Message to Members

“Over the next several months, much of our association’s focus for that work will be advocacy with the provincial government and with other industry stakeholders. Politics in Alberta have changed dramatically and permanently over the last decade. As a result, we have work to do to raise awareness about CLRA with decision-makers and influencers in government.

“We have important messages to deliver on your behalf about the value of the collective agreements we’ve signed with the skilled trade unions, about the value CLRA offers to government efforts to attract investment and workers to Alberta, about the need for more predictable and stable investments in the construction industry, trades education and workforce retention, about the impact of potential changes to labour legislation, workplace safety regulations and building codes, and about the need to attract and recruit more people to our industry from underrepresented groups including women, LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous people.

“As Chair, my only ask of our members this year is to support these efforts.”