The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology hosted 200 high school students on Monday for its annual NEXT in Trades event, designed to introduce young people to careers in skilled trades. This year’s gathering coincided with Alberta’s Apprenticeship Day and gave students access to NAIT lab and shop spaces, workshops, staff, alumni and industry members.

Trace Canning, a Grade 11 student at Holy Redeemer Catholic High School in Edson, chose workshops in carpentry and construction. He enjoys working with his hands and hopes one day to start a business with his brothers, who work as a plumber and an electrician. Canning said he wanted “guidance for what I might want to do after high school.”

“It’s very well organized and I quite enjoy it so far,” he told CTV News Edmonton. NAIT offered workshops in 14 disciplines, including culinary arts, insulation and cabinetmaking.

Matthew Lindberg-Fowlow, NAIT’s construction and building sciences dean, said the event aims to help participants explore their interests and get answers to their questions. “Our hope is that the students who participate in this activity are going to have really good questions and answers to those questions. We want them to make sure that they are finding a career choice that they’re passionate about,” he said.

The report included files from CTV News Edmonton’s Darcy Seaton.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.