Alberta is committing $25 million through Budget 2025 to expand and modernize the W.J. Elliott trades building at Olds College - part of a $63-million investment spread over three years, first announced in 2024.
The project will add more than 440 new seats in skilled trades programs and 100 seats for dual-credit students. According to Advanced Education Minister Rajan Sawhney, the dual-credit stream lets students earn post-secondary credit while finishing high school.
Construction is expected to begin this summer and wrap by spring 2027. According to college officials, the modernization will include expanded classrooms, overhead cranes, engine diagnostics labs and infrastructure "designed to support tomorrow's technologies."
"This expansion will elevate the student experience and help us meet industry demand," said Sawhney. "These are highly skilled, well-educated individuals who go on to be leaders in their industries."
"Trade students will have access to cutting-edge tools and real-world facilities," said Anna Dau, president of the Olds College Students' Association. "This is what it means to prioritize student success."
"Without tradespeople, the country doesn't move," said Dennis Bowden, dean of trades and skills. "Machinery breaks down, construction halts, and the infrastructure you rely on just stops. This modernization ensures we can continue shaping the next generation of builders and problem-solvers."
College administrators said the expansion is also intended to reinforce Olds College's applied learning mandate.
"The modernization of the W.J. Elliott building is, at its heart, an investment in our students," said Debbie Thompson, president and CEO of Olds College. "By investing in their future and working in close partnership with industry, we are actively shaping the future of skilled trades in Alberta."
In a post-announcement media exchange, Sawhney said the province is also expanding access to skilled trades at the high school level through dual-credit programs and outreach groups such as Careers. She added that the government has invested in social media messaging to promote "parity of esteem" between trades and academic pathways.
"We are placing a tremendous emphasis on the high schools," she said. "This government is very, very invested in making sure that high school students and even junior high students understand the value proposition and the opportunities."
The W.J. Elliott building has housed trades programming at Olds College since 1971. According to Thompson, the renovation will support hands-on training and, in her words, "actively shape the future of skilled trades in Alberta."
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