Chad Flinn and Boyd Craven pose with welding equipment in the Trades wing of Medicine Hat College during an announcement on Monday.--ANG PHOTO ANNA SMITH
Rural high school students will be exploring new hands-on opportunities in the trades thanks to a new partnership between Medicine Hat College and Prairie Rose Public Schools.
An announcement in the trades wing of the college was made Monday in regards to the creation of the South Alberta School of Trades, which will begin this fall.
“Prairie Rose is going to be involved with the school of trades, where we are going to have some more exciting hands-on learning opportunities for our high school students in the area of the trades,” said Boyd Craven, Prairie Rose deputy superintendent.
For a long time, there has been a stigma in regards to the trades, explained Chad Flinn, dean of the MHC School of Trades and Technology, something he hopes this program will help to dispel, especially with the growing demand for skilled trades workers.
“Oftentimes trades have been seen as second rate,” said Flinn. “And one of the best kept secrets, I think in careers, has been that change is actually a very viable, very profitable business. So to get into high schools, and work with the students, and show them the pathway that trades have, is extremely exciting to us here at Medicine Hat College.”
The program will be available for all Prairie Rose high schools starting in Grade 10, where they will have access to the “secret sauce” of MHC and instructors, for a full day every two weeks, attending classes on site.
“We’re super excited to be able to work with Prairie Rose and just to be able to work together. It’s super exciting and innovative,” said Flinn.
