PCL commits $1 million to skills and trades training in Alberta

EDMONTON, Sept. 20, 2013 /CNW/ - PCL Construction will be providing $500,000 to both the NAIT in Edmonton and SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary, to support trade and skills training in the province, the company announced today.

"We are committed to supporting the education and training of skilled workers in all the places where we build in Canada, the United States, and Australia," said Paul Douglas, PCL president and CEO. "Our tradespeople are the forefront of what PCL Construction is all about and that's why we support NAIT and SAIT Polytechnic in their role in producing qualified skilled tradespeople to help us build success with our partners."

"This gift reflects the longstanding relationship NAIT has with PCL," said Dr. Glenn Feltham, president and CEO of NAIT. "We look forward to building that relationship and providing the career-ready graduates PCL requires for its continued success."

More than 7,000 tradespeople are at work for PCL companies today, up from 5,800 one year ago.

"PCL is a leader in the construction industry and we are proud to say many of their employees are SAIT Polytechnic graduates," said Dr. David Ross, president and CEO of SAIT Polytechnic. "Their commitment to SAIT and the provincial economy is unparalleled and it is a pleasure to put PCL's name on the new Thomas Riley atrium."

The $500,000 provided to SAIT Polytechnic will be allocated to the renovation of the Thomas Riley building and the SAIT Opportunities Fund. SAIT Polytechnic is known for innovative applied research and development activities and boasts 82 certificate, diploma, and applied degree programs, two baccalaureate degree programs, and 30-plus apprenticeship programs.

NAIT will designate the $500,000 to capital infrastructure, allowing the institute to grow capacity and increase training spaces. NAIT has approximately 140 credit programs leading to degrees, applied degrees, diplomas, and certificates, providing students with the essential skills that employers need to meet the workforce demands of Alberta.

PCL is currently active in over 500 projects throughout Alberta across its civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and building divisions.

About the PCL family of companies
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that carries out work across Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and in Australia. These diverse operations in the civil infrastructure, heavy industrial, and buildings markets are supported by a strategic presence in 31 major centers. Together, these companies have an annual construction volume of nearly $7 billion, making PCL the largest contracting organization in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Watch us build at www.pcl.com.

SOURCE: PCL family of companies

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