College and High School proudly partner to increase learning opportunities in Edson

Special to the Post

Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) and Grande Yellowhead Public School Division (GYPSD) are proud partners in an exciting new learning opportunity with offering a Pre-Employment Welding certificate at Parkland Composite High School (PCHS) in Edson.

The College will offer the certificate program at PCHS starting February 1, 2018, to anyone in the community interested in pursing a career as a welder. The program will also be offered as a dual credit program, which provides high school students the ability to kick start their post-secondary learning while earning credits towards graduation requirements as well as credits towards a post-secondary welding ticket.

The Pre-Employment Welding certificate follows the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Welder curriculum. Students who successfully complete the program will have the opportunity to challenge the first-year welder exam to continue in the Welder Apprenticeship program. If successful, high school students are able to continue their Welder Apprenticeship program through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) at PCHS, or after graduation, continue their apprenticeship including attending GPRC for their technical training.

Grande Yellowhead invested $95,000 into its shop at Parkland with electrical infrastructure upgrades, new HVAC system, lighting and eight new welding booths with state-of-the-art equipment to meet the requirements for the AIT. GYPSD would also like to sincerely thank the local businesses Tourmaline Oil Corp and Baron Oilfield Supply who also provided funding for materials.

“Grande Yellowhead’s involvement in High School Redesign, dual credit courses, registered apprenticeship programs, work experience, and other programs and initiatives allow our students to create different pathways to success,” noted Carolyn Lewis, GYPSD’s Superintendent of Schools. “With a concerted effort to strengthen and build trust in all of our stakeholder relationships, we are proud to partner with organizations such as GPRC to provide a variety of learning experiences, both academic and opportunities for tradesrelated training, for our students.”