Training
In addition to our trademark Journeywoman START Program, WBF has added an additional program, Heavy Equipment Operator Program, to help you get ready for a career in the trades. Attending an Information Session and Career Decision Making Workshop will help you determine which program is right for you.
Journeywoman START (17 weeks)
Click here to register for an Information Session and start the application process!
The Journeywoman START program is an approved Integrated Training Program with the Province of Alberta. The program is designed to help women prepare for and succeed in construction, oil and gas jobs and apprenticeships. The program is designed to:
Introduce participants to a variety of construction and mechanical trades;
Provide participants with a realistic understanding of trades workplace culture;
Provide hands-on career development training that will enable them to compete successfully for jobs;
Provide participants with enough hands-on experience to allow participants to make concrete decisions about their potential in the trades;
Provide participants with trades specific academic upgrading that will enable them to successfully challenge the Alberta Apprenticeship Entrance Exam for their trade;
Provide participants with the necessary safety training and safety awareness expected by industry employers;
Facilitate employment assistance leading to apprenticeship
Journeywoman START training takes place primarily in the WBF facility. Worksite tours and guest speakers will round out the learner’s readiness for apprenticeship. The program includes:
1 week of Worksite Safety Certification: Standard First Aid/CPR Level One; Scaffold Safety; Fall Protection; Forklift Operator Safety Certificate; CSTS/WHMIS, H2S Alive;
8 weeks of Hands-on Skill Training – Basic Hand and Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Steamfitting/Pipefitting, Welding, Sheet Metal and Drawing and Blueprint Reading
2 weeks Workplace Culture conditioning, Career Development and Financial Management
4 weeks Academics (trade math, science and English). Students write the Alberta Apprenticeship Entrance Exam
- 2 weeks work experience (optional)
- Job placement/apprenticeship registration
Click here to register for an Information Session and start the application process!
The Heavy Equipment Operators program is an approved Integrated Training Program with the Province of Alberta and is being offered in cooperation with Olds College. The program is designed to help women prepare for and succeed as Heavy Equipment Operators. Heavy Equipment Operators are not a recognized trade in the province of Alberta and do not include an apprenticeship. Most operators are trained in the field over a number of years. Wage rates range from $18 to $35 an hour plus benefits. Graduates of this program will receive a certificate from Olds College.
This program is designed to:
- Introduce participants to the heavy equipment operator industry;
- Provide participants with a realistic understanding of heavy equipment operator workplace culture;
- Provide hands-on career development training that will enable them to compete successfully for jobs;
- Provide participants with hands-on training in the operation of loaders (loading into dump trucks), scrapers (buggy), graders, dozers (cats), excavators (large hoe), rollers (packers) and their attachments;
- Provide participants with an understanding of soils, grades, excavation math and blueprint reading required by heavy equipment operators;
- Provide participants with the necessary safety training and safety awareness expected by industry employers;
- Assist with employment and job retention.
The Heavy Equipment Operators program training takes place in the WBF facility and at a heavy equipment operator work site. The program includes:
- 2 weeks Safety Certification: Confined Space Awareness (including trenching and sloping); Ground Disturbance Training, H2S Alive, PST (Petroleum Safety), Standard First Aid and CPR (Level 1), Transportation of Dangerous Goods Safety Certificate (TDG), WHMIS
- 9 weeks Operator Training in the safe operation of: loaders (loading into dump trucks), scrapers (buggy), graders, dozers (cats), excavators (large hoe), rollers (packers) and their attachments
- 2 weeks study of soils, grades, excavation math and blueprint reading
- 2 weeks Workplace Culture and Career Development and Financial Management
- 2 weeks Work Practicum
- Assistance with job placement and job retention support