Aurora College is making intentional and strategic investments to expand its trades and apprenticeship training, supporting long-term workforce development that reflects the unique needs, strengths, and aspirations of Northern communities. Beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, the college will launch seven new programs at its Thebacha Campus in Fort Smith, with additional offerings to follow in 2026–2027.
This expansion is rooted in listening to the voices of Northern residents, Indigenous governments, and community leaders, all of whom have expressed a growing need for skilled tradespeople who are not only trained in technical excellence but also grounded in local realities. Across the North—and throughout the Circumpolar Arctic—there is a shared call to address critical infrastructure challenges, from housing shortages to sustainable energy and resource management. Meeting these challenges requires not just skills, but a workforce that understands the land, the people, and the importance of working in relationship with community.
“Aurora College is committed to offering high quality apprenticeship level training so Northern residents can pursue careers in the skilled trades without having to leave the region," says Angela James, President at Aurora College, "This investment will help Aurora College expand its offerings and ensure our trainees have access to the most up to date technology to meet and exceed industry standards.”
Aurora College’s new programs are designed with these values in mind. The new Fundamentals programs will prepare students for apprenticeship entry exams while emphasizing hands-on learning rooted in real-world applications. Community-based projects—such as small house construction—will provide meaningful opportunities for students to contribute directly to addressing housing needs in their home regions. This approach not only enhances practical skills but also reinforces community resilience, pride, and self-reliance. In addition, new apprenticeship programs and higher levels of existing apprenticeship programs will be offered, reducing the need for apprentices to travel outside of the region to complete their annual training.
This major expansion is supported by $625,018 in funding through Employment and Social Development Canada’s Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), part of the federal Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy. These investments support the vision of a strong, self-determined North, where local knowledge, cultural strength, and technical capacity go hand-in-hand to shape a sustainable and prosperous future, removing barriers to trades training and contributing to broader goals, including net-zero construction and economic resilience Northern Canada.
For UArctic member institutions and Northern partners, this expansion presents opportunities for collaboration, curriculum sharing, and regional skill-building strategies. The alignment between trades training and Northern development priorities- including housing, climate adaptation, and local employment, reflects shared goals across Arctic communities.