Getting ready to celebrate their 25th Anniversary on May 26th, we caught up with Dale Tiedemann, CAREERS Regional Manager on the work they are doing in the Northwest region.
CAREERS works with schools to connect students with employers for paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities in a variety of in-in demand fields, including: the Skilled Trades, Forestry, Agriculture, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Healthcare, and more.
The Alberta based non-profit organization recruits local employers looking to invest in developing their workforce strategy. This is done in-part by engaging youth and providing meaningful paid internships to students. These employers range from small service businesses to global companies. CAREERS then works with school Off-campus Coordinators to match suitable students to available mentorship opportunities. Students gain valuable employability skills and on-the-job training, in a safe working environment. The benefits don’t stop there. Youth Interns are compensated with a fair wage (minimum wage or greater), earn high school credits towards their diploma, and when registered with Alberta Apprenticeship & Industry Training, receive provincially recognized hours toward their chosen apprenticeship.
CAREERS aims to create a diverse skilled workforce by engaging youth, including Indigenous youth and young women in professional development strategies. Their efforts help to build stronger communities by attracting and retaining young people to in-demand career pathways and invigorates local capacity where youth succeed in Northwest Alberta.
With a territory that expands from High Level in the North to Grande Cache in the West and Mayerthorpe in the South, CAREERS efforts in the Northwest Region of Alberta are supported by three full-time Program Coordinators – located in Grande Prairie, Peace River, and Whitecourt.
Through a grant provided by the Community Foundation, CAREERS can ensure as many communities as possible can benefit from their delivery of in-person and virtual program offerings, including classroom presentations and hands-on exploration events like Tours of the Trades and Forestry Quick Connects.
Dale notes: “Experiential learning is the perfect way for students to see what they like and what they don’t, before investing substantial time and money into their post-secondary education. They can earn credits, get paid, and in some cases, get an incredible head start on achieving their career goals. Imagine if every career path had a similar program? What a strong, fun-filled future workforce we could build. Programs like ours help youth take on the future!”
