OLDS — A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Olds College of Agriculture & Technology April 2 to celebrate the completion of renovations and expansion of the college’s Metals building.
The $4.4 million project involved renovating one of the older welding shop spaces and adding a fourth welding shop space in order to update and expand the number of welding booths available to students.
This modernizes the facility, enabling it to accommodate up to 21 dual credit students per class, equipping them with industry-ready skills and preparing them for careers in Alberta’s skilled trades workforce.
The project was made possible by a collegiate grant from Alberta Education issued in 2023 to the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI).
CACI is a collaboration of four partnering school divisions (Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Chinook’s Edge School Division), two post-secondary institutions (Olds College and Red Deer Polytechnic) and CAREERS, a not-for-profit organization that collaborates with schools to connect youth with employers.
In 2023, CACI announced they had been approved as one of the first collegiate programs in Alberta.
In addition to the $4.4 million grant to renovate the Olds College Metals Building, $2.6 million was provided for similar renovations at Red Deer Polytechnic, marking this one of the largest K-12 collegiate funding investments of important collegiate facility spaces to date.
Participating in the celebrations were Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, senior leaders from CACI partner organizations, board members, staff and Alberta Education representatives.
The celebrations included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, speeches, a facility tour and insights into the impact of CACI programming on students and industry.
“The demand for skilled tradespeople is on the rise, and Alberta’s economic future depends on ensuring the workforce is ready to meet that need,” Jackie Taylor, executive director, CACI and the Community Learning Campus (CLC) said in a news release.
The CLC is a facility shared between Olds College and École Olds High School.
“Through partnerships like CACI, high school students gain valuable hands-on experience and a head start in their careers, positioning them for success in post-secondary education and the job market,” Taylor added.
Editor's note: The headline on this article has been updated from the original to correct the acronym for Central Alberta Collegiate Institute. It is CACI.
