The Building Trades of Alberta is preparing to welcome labour leaders, industry partners, government representatives and advocates for Alberta’s skilled trades to Jasper for the 2026 BTA Convention and Conference.

Taking place from September 14 to 16 at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, this year’s gathering is titled From Vision to Action: The Next Chapter. The theme reflects the Building Trades’ commitment to turning shared priorities into meaningful results. This means more work for union members, stronger apprenticeship and training systems, and a greater role for skilled trades unions in Alberta’s economic future.

The BTA Convention will take place on September 14, bringing together delegates from BTA-affiliated unions. It will provide an opportunity to conduct the important business of the council, reflect on the progress made over the past year and help establish the direction of Alberta’s Building Trades Unions.

The BTA Conference will follow on September 15 and 16. Through presentations, discussions and networking opportunities, attendees will explore the issues shaping Alberta’s construction industry and skilled trades workforce. The conference will bring together perspectives from labour, government, industry and the broader business community.

A central focus will be the need to move from planning to implementation. Alberta is entering a period of tremendous opportunity, with major industrial, infrastructure and energy projects offering the potential to create thousands of well-paying careers. Realizing that potential will require collaboration, long-term workforce planning and a strong commitment to employing and training Alberta workers.

The conference will also highlight the role of union training centres in preparing the next generation of skilled trades professionals. BTA-affiliated unions deliver world-class apprenticeship, safety and skills training across the province. Strengthening these programs—and creating clearer pathways into the trades for young people, Indigenous workers, women and other underrepresented groups—will be essential to meeting Alberta’s future workforce needs.

For the Building Trades of Alberta, steady work for members remains the priority. The BTA and its affiliates have been working collectively to grow union market share, strengthen relationships with project owners and contractors, advocate for policies that support unionized construction, and demonstrate the value that highly trained Building Trades members bring to every jobsite.

The 2026 Convention and Conference will build on that momentum. It will be a place to share ideas, strengthen partnerships and develop practical approaches to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As Alberta looks toward its next generation of major projects, the province will need a workforce capable of delivering them safely, efficiently and to the highest standards. Alberta’s Building Trades Unions are ready to meet that challenge.

From Vision to Action: The Next Chapter is more than the theme of this year’s gathering. It is a call to work together, act with purpose and build a stronger future for Alberta’s skilled trades workers, their families and communities across the province.