Syncrude, Alberta high schools

A generous donation by Syncrude will be used to promote trades in Alberta high schools, with the goal of creating interest in the trades in high school students. The donation totaled $300,000, and it was provided to Skills Canada Alberta to support the organization initiative Skills in the Classroom. According to a statement from Syncrude Skills Canada Alberta was chosen for the donation because the organization changes the way students, teachers, and parents think about the trades as a career path. The generous donation will be used for the next 3 years to finance competitions and help to promote interest in the trades in Alberta high schools. According to the vice president of maintenance for Syncrude, Jim Richards, “We had supported Skills Canada on a year-by-year basis for the past two years and have been very impressed with their work. They have been hugely successful in engaging high school students. They hosted more than 28,000 students at their various events in 2014.”

Skills Canada has held many competitions for Alberta high school students in 45 different areas of the trades and technology, and these competitions help students connect with industry leaders and post secondary individuals who can be influential for trade students. According to the executive director of Skills Canada Alberta, Chris Browton, “Youth can benefit from careers in Alberta’s robust economy when they are provided with the right combination of inspiration, information, and opportunity. The partnership with Syncrude allows us to support students as they turn their interests into in-demand and valued careers.”