Western Trade Training Institute (WTTI) of Saskatoon was recently purchased by Parkland College, a regional college located in the east-central region of the province with campuses located in Melville, Yorkton, Fort Qu’Appelle, Esterhazy and Canora.

WTTI has been a family-owned business operated by a husband and wife team, Ron and Vicki Chyz. “I am very pleased that Parkland College will continue to deliver Crane and Hoist apprenticeship training through Western Trade Training Institute to meet the needs of industry in Saskatchewan,” Vicki Chyz said.

The company will remain an independent private vocational institute owned by the Regional College. While operated by Parkland College, WTTI will continue to employ instructional staff whose qualifications, credentials, knowledge, and abilities meet defined standards acceptable to the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, industry, and WTTI.

“WTTI is a well established training provider throughout the province of Saskatchewan”, Parkland College President Fay Myers said. “We see great potential to expand the business in-service portion, broadening training across Saskatchewan and further into Alberta and Manitoba.”

“By acquiring WTTI, Parkland College is expanding its training capacity and the pool of skilled workers that Saskatchewan needs to continue building a knowledge economy,” Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Rob Norris said. “This is a great example of collaborative and applied learning opportunities that help connect learners to jobs in our strong economy.”

WTTI has a protocol agreement with the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission to deliver apprenticeship level training and upgrade in Crane & Hoist Operator trade and related sub-trades. The training is accredited by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission and is an industry certification.

“I’m very pleased that Parkland College has acquired Western Trade Training Institute. I am looking forward to the renewal of training to support Saskatchewan’s crane industry,” Joe Black, CEO of Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, said.

In celebration of Education Week – “Reading More into Education”, Parkland College and Good Spirit School Division signed a Learning Alliance on Oct. 28th.

The Learning Alliance will enable both parties to support initiatives of common interest furthering the principles and practices of high quality education and training in their respective jurisdictions. “Parkland College and the Good Spirit School Division have a strong history of co-operation. The signing of the Learning Alliance creates a framework for enhanced collaboration that will benefit the students from Parkland College and the Good Spirit School Division,” explained Dwayne Reeve, Director of Education, Good Spirit School Division.

“Strong partnerships are most important to Parkland College in providing high quality education and training. We are very pleased to take our partnership with Good Spirit School Division one step further in signing this Learning Alliance to support initiatives and practices of common interest,” Parkland College President, Dr. Fay Myers said.

This alliance will support the work of trustees and governors in areas of effective governance strategies, board member orientation, professional development opportunities, strategic planning, advocacy strategies, policy and process development, and evaluation.

The Learning Alliance will also support the work of senior administration to explore, enhance, and refine organizational practices in areas including joint use/development of facilities, joint program development and delivery, joint staff development and recruitment, services to students in such areas as childcare, career development, English as a Second Language and regional opportunities and needs identification.