The Calgary Construction Association, in partnership with the Calgary Catholic School District, hosted its first-ever skilled trades fair at St. Thomas More School on May 13, 2026. The event aimed to spark interest in trades careers among elementary students, addressing the growing demand for skilled workers in Alberta.
Hands-On Learning for Young Students
More than 200 students from grades 4 to 6 participated in the fair, interacting with industry leaders from various trades. Grade 6 student Aria Comia expressed surprise at how engaging the trades were, particularly ironworking and interior design. 'They're actually really cool, more than I thought they were going to be,' she said, noting that she enjoyed asking questions and learning about the hands-on nature of the work.
Addressing the Skilled Worker Shortage
Bill Black, president of the Calgary Construction Association, highlighted the urgency of attracting young people to the trades. 'There is no trade that is not concerned that they may not have the workforce they need over the next decade,' he said. The average age to start an apprenticeship in Canada is 27, and the industry is facing a wave of retirements.
Mike Metcalf, a plumber with Modern Niagara, emphasized the dire need for apprentices across all trades. 'We see a lot of influx in kids, but we're in dire need of apprentices getting into the skilled trades all across the board,' he said. Retaining apprentices is also a challenge, as noted by sheet metal worker Jake Thomsen. 'Once they get in, they realize it's not exactly an easy thing to do. You have to participate, but it's an avenue for learning great skills and earning great wages, especially if you don't want to go to college or university.'
Overcoming Stigma
Philip Etheridge, an electrician with Custom Electric Ltd., pointed out that the trades often suffer from a stigma compared to IT and computer fields. He stressed the benefits of travel and hands-on work. Highlighting these advantages, he believes, will help build a future workforce.
Educational Impact
Bradford Rosgen, principal of St. Thomas More School, noted that the fair provides students with early exposure to career options. 'When I was growing up in the 80s and 90s, we weren't introduced to this many careers, but I know that there is a huge workforce of tradespeople making great money,' he said. 'I want my student base to be introduced to as many careers at an early age to foster that development.'
Kirk Linton, director of teaching and learning for the Calgary Catholic School District, described the event as a pilot for a new career education and financial literacy curriculum being rolled out by Alberta Education. 'We know junior high has lots of opportunities to expand this work, but we see the importance of authentic work in elementary as well,' he said. 'I see this as the first of many opportunities to roll this out across the district.'
