EDMONTON, AB – With National Indigenous Peoples’ Day approaching June 21, the Building Trades of Alberta is launching phase one of its Path Forward campaign, which aims to instill hope and a sense of belonging among Alberta’s Indigenous youth through a rewarding career in the unionized skilled trades.

“The truth is, for many Indigenous Albertans, desperation and despair are unfortunate realities and can lead folks down a dangerous path. Addictions, incarcerations, mental health issues and suicides have plagued numerous Indigenous communities at disproportional rates for far too long,” said Building Trades of Alberta’s Director of Inclusion, Lyle Daniels.

“The Building Trades of Alberta wants to help, and with the assistance of Ethan Bear from the Edmonton Oilers, Treaty 6 Grand Chief Billy Morin and Jasmin Smith, union Ironworker Local 725, we’re telling stories of Indigenous success through their paths, from hockey, to helping people, to the skilled trades.

“We want to inspire Indigenous youth to find their path forward, and if they think it’s with the skilled trades, we want to help them out with their first few steps.”

BTA’s Executive Director Terry Parker said the goal of Path Forward is to highlight the rewards of a career in the unionized skilled trades and the potential for the skilled trades to be a path forward for Alberta’s Indigenous youth.

“BTA is home to more than 60,000 unionized skilled trades workers, from apprentices to red seal journeypersons, many of them are Indigenous with many finding personal growth and financial security through the unionized skilled trades. These careers offer the best rates of pay, health and welfare benefits, collective bargaining rights, the highest workplace health and safety standards, a sense of community and more.

“We want to ensure Indigenous youth are aware of this, that we’re ready to help get them started, and that through BTA, they’ll have the guidance and support needed to start their path forward in the skilled trades.”

Watch for BTA’s Path Forward phase two, which will highlight Indigenous BTA journeypersons, and phase three, which will highlight Indigenous BTA skilled trades retirees.

Visit btapathforward.ca to learn more.

For more information, and for media interviews:

Tyler Bedford, BTA Director of Communications and Relations, 780-298-7626