NAIT celebrates $15 million investment into housing apprenticeships

NAIT announced a $15 million investment campaign to address Alberta’s ongoing trades shortage to build homes, on October 18. A Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation report suggests that the workforce would have to double to match demand and keep prices within reason. The campaign looks to help shorten the time it takes to build homes, reducing potential homeowners’ costs.

Jay Westman, Chair and CEO of Jayman BUILT, raised funds to establish the BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers initiative. “The shortage of skilled labour is the largest single issue our industry has ever faced,” says Westman. “This is an Alberta initiative with an Alberta solution,” he continued. 

The initiative could fund approximately 3,000 awards for NAIT and SAIT homebuilding apprenticeship and pre-employment students. These awards will have a preference for demographics underrepresented in the industry. 

“Supporting student awards not only removes their financial barriers, but also gives them the help and encouragement to succeed and make a real difference in their chosen field,” says Laura Jo Gunter, NAIT’s President and CEO.

These student awards will cover a wide range of residential construction careers, which include:

• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Sheet metal
• Electrician
• Bricklayer
• Cabinet maker
• Roofer
• Drywall
• Glazier
• Insulator and painter

A portion of the funds will engage high school students by building awareness of these careers in the skilled trades.

The fund’s initial goal of $3 million was surpassed, with Westman donating $2 million himself. The fund received donations from leaders in the homebuilding community, with $7 million committed by Homes by Avi and Anthem. Westman will continue to chair the campaign to reach the current goal of $15 million. 

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