As Canada increases its investment in nation-building infrastructure, the success of these projects will depend on a strong pipeline of skilled talent.  Polytechnics Canada caught up with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) to discuss how expanding training capacity through its Advanced Skills Centre (ASC) is helping address skilled trades labour shortages.

Peter Leclaire, Vice-President, Academic, and Patti Hergott, Associate Vice-President, Academic Quality & Operational Excellence, explored the evolving role of polytechnic institutions in preparing the next generation of trades professionals.

Polytechnics Canada:  Your session at the 2026 Polytechnic Showcase, Building Canada’s Future, focused on how NAIT is expanding its skilled trades capacity to address critical labour shortages.  As one of the country’s largest skilled trades training providers, how is NAIT evolving its training models to meet industry demand?

Peter Leclaire: NAIT is modernizing how trades education is delivered.  We have introduced new diploma programs offering alternative pathways into skilled trades, equipping students with the technical and professional skills employers want and providing opportunities to enter apprenticeships afterward.  These programs complement traditional apprenticeship routes and open doors to a broader range of learners, from recent high school graduates to career changers.

Patti Hergott:  I would add that the Advanced Skills Centre will use integrated, real-world simulation.  Twenty-nine programs will work together in environments that mimic actual job sites, with HVAC technicians, carpenters and electricians working alongside each other.  This helps them understand how each trade affects the next, a departure from more siloed classroom-based training.

PC:  In its 2026 budget, the Alberta government announced major investments for NAIT’s Advanced Skills Centre.  What does this investment mean for training capacity and opportunities for future trades professionals?

PL:  The Alberta government’s Budget 2026 commitment is the largest capital investment in NAIT’s history.  NAIT will receive $384 million over three years toward a total $560 million investment in the Advanced Skills Centre.  This includes $52 million this year, $130 million in 2027-28 and $203 million in 2028-29.  The total project cost is forecasted at $779 million, with NAIT covering the remainder through fundraising, real estate sales and reserves.

PH:  The impact is significant.  Once complete, the Advanced Skills Centre will allow NAIT to train 5,500 more students each year, bringing total capacity to more than 15,000 trades students per year.  The facility will add 640,000 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space to NAIT’s main campus.  With construction underway and foundations targeted for 2026-27, this investment means more seats, better equipment and faster pathways to journeyperson certification for Alberta’s next generation of tradespeople.

PC:  Many industries are facing an aging trades workforce.  What strategies is NAIT using to attract and inspire the next generation of skilled trades professionals?

PL:  Attracting younger Canadians to the trades requires addressing perceptions and access barriers.  NAIT is pursuing both.  New diploma programs welcome students from all backgrounds, including recent high school graduates, mature learners changing careers and international students.

PH:  The Advanced Skills Centre is partly designed as an attraction tool.  Plans include a 10,000-square-foot space to showcase trades and technology skills, intended to spark curiosity and demystify what a trades career looks like.  Broader provincial efforts support this.  The 2026 Budget includes $54 million over three years to support non-profit organizations raising awareness of skilled trades opportunities and reducing barriers for under-represented groups.  NAIT will be a destination for those audiences, offering modern facilities, flexible entry points and clear pathways.

PC:  Looking ahead, how can stronger collaboration between polytechnics like NAIT, industry and government help ensure Canada has the workforce needed to build and maintain the infrastructure of the future?

PL:  The Advanced Skills Centre is a model of what that collaboration can look like.  Its design, scope and priorities were shaped in direct partnership with industry.  Industry leaders such as PCL Construction and Inter Pipeline have emphasized the importance of adaptable learning spaces that can pivot to meet dynamic labour market demands.  That input is reflected in the ASC’s integrated, multi-trade structure.

To achieve effective workforce development on a Canada-wide scale, collaboration must extend beyond one-time capital investments and evolve into a sustained, organized partnership among polytechnics, employers and government.  Polytechnics like NAIT can adapt their curriculum to respond to national labour market trends provided that industry partners from various Canadian sectors share their hiring projections, engage in program development and facilitate work-integrated learning opportunities.

PH:  Another thing I would highlight is that governments are critical to addressing the national skills gap.  By funding infrastructure, expanding apprenticeship opportunities and harmonizing credential recognition, institutions will be better able to build a resilient, future-ready workforce.