LAKELAND - The Alberta government recently announced $2.1 million in funding for Portage College that will see an expansion of seats in the Paramedicine program, classroom upgrades, as well as the reinstatement of the Steamfitter-Pipefitter program in time for the 2024-25 academic year.
The breakdown of the funding will see the province investing $900,000 to modernize classrooms at Portage College locations across the Lakeland in a bid to improve the learning experience for students. An additional $875,000 is being made to create 96 seats in the paramedicine program, and $319,846 is being spent to support apprenticeship programs.
The investment at Portage is part of a total of $14,968,759 in funding for post-secondary institutions in northeastern Alberta, which also includes Athabasca University, Keyano College, and Northern Lakes College.
Other investments being made by the province include $3.1 million to create 669 seats in high-demand programs, apprenticeship funding-$2.1 million to support seats for apprentices, and project-specific capital maintenance and renewal funding-$9.7 million to update campus facilities to improve student experiences.
Those additional investments will help Portage to bring back the Steamfitter-Pipefitter program to the college.
According to a statement released by the Alberta Advanced Education, steamfitter-pipefitter is one of the fastest-growing apprenticeship programs in the northeastern region of the province.
“Investing in local communities encourages students to stay close to home to develop the skills, knowledge and competencies they need for the most in-demand jobs,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education. “It also benefits the local economy, as students graduate and use their talents to continue building strong and prosperous communities.”
Donald Moore, the Associate Vice President, Academic or Portage College, is pleased to see the funding and attention being paid to the rural post-secondaries. He says the funding will particularly help at Portage with the reinstatement of the Steamfitter-Pipefitter Program.
"With support from the Alberta Institute of Technology (AIT) to reinstate the Steamfitter-Pipefitter Program at Portage College for the 2024-25 academic year, we are committed to equipping our students with the skills and knowledge needed for promising careers in the pipe trades,” Moore said. “Support and funding for this program revival signifies our dedication to meeting industry demands and providing our students with valuable pathways to success.
Moore says that demand for steamfitters and pipefitters has been on the rise in Alberta in recent years, adding that these skilled tradespeople often find employment in pipelines, oil refineries, and the construction industry.
“The oil and gas and construction industry in particular have experienced a recent boom,” he continued. “Within our region, demand for certified steamfitter-pipefitters is expecting to continue to see significant growth.
Moore said bringing back the Apprenticeship Steamfitter-Pipefitter program will enable Portage College to offer entry-level training in other trades, such as plumbing, adding that those who are looking to enter the program need to be registered apprentices, which typically means they are already working in the field.
He said the Steamfitter-Pipefitter program hasn’t been offered at the college in more than a decade.
“In the late 2010’s, as the oil patch began to slow down there were less apprentices in the region,” he explained. “As such, several institutions including Portage College had trades seats removed.”
The announced investment is a big step in the right direction, says President Nancy Broadbent.
She said that by working together, both the provincial government and the college will meet the demand for much-needed programming in the region.
“Modernizing our classrooms will help ensure our students have an excellent learning experience at Portage College,” Broadbent stated. “We’re thankful to the Government of Alberta, Minister Sawhney and Advanced Education for their support.”
