Ground Broken on Alberta Campus for Crane Operators

November 18, 2015 – The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) has broken ground on a new 133-acre campus in Spruce Grove, dedicated to its crane and hoisting equipment operator program. One of the most popular programs at NAIT, it sees applicants outnumber openings every year.

 

According to an article at edmontonjournal.com, NAIT has been trying to increase the number of available admissions for several years now. “This was the program where a couple of years ago there were so many apprentices and so few seats that were available across the province that we literally had people living in our hallways, waiting for apprenticeship registration to open,” said Malcolm Haines, dean of NAIT’s School of Trades.

 

Apprentice seats are determined annually by the government of Alberta. Currently, the school offers 276 spots in the boom truck and mobile crane program. Last year, the government requested 504 seats, said Haines. Six cranes onsite, including one that can reach 16 stories; lighting that extends training time past daylight hours; and high-tech simulators all help increase the training capacity at Spruce Grove, he said.

 

“Over time, we expect to significantly increase the size of the crane and hoisting program,” NAIT president and CEO Glenn Feltham said. Development was funded through a $7.8-million contribution over the next five years from the provincial government.