CVA Report - February 2010
Expansion of Facilities in Prince Albert
Cam Nordin
SIAST is Saskatchewan’s primary public institution for post-secondary technical education and skills training, recognized nationally and internationally for its expertise and innovation. More than 14,000 students were enrolled in SIAST programs in the most recent academic year; additionally, the organization drew almost 30,000 individual course registrations. Through program and course registrations, SIAST served almost 26,000 distinct students with programs that touch every sector of the economy. SIAST operates campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and provides a number of courses and programs through distance education.
A continuing challenge for SIAST is space for programs. In order to meet a specific need, SIAST is beginning a 7,000 square foot expansion to the Woodland Campus main building. This $2.4 million dollar project will allow the school to better meet the increased demand for the training of electrical apprentices in Saskatchewan.
The school’s main building had been constructed with possible future expansion an option. Applications for development and building permits have been acquired, and construction in the southwest corner has started. This new construction will include open shop space, offices, a classroom and a large classroom that can be split into smaller rooms if required. The addition will tie directly onto the existing building, and access will be available from the main hall.
The expansion is needed to keep up with the increase in the number of electrical apprentices in the province. In 2008-09 there were 18 groups of electrical apprentices trained, 216 students in total. This year there are 32 groups scheduled, with 384 students, which is actually more students than there is allotted space available for. Some classes are currently scheduled in the evening, outside of normal school hours, and lab space is at a premium.
The expansion is scheduled to be complete by August 1, 2010, in time for the upcoming school year. There are 41 groups of electrical apprentices scheduled for 2010-2011, with a projected 492 students, so the addition will be fully utilized as well as the area presently assigned to the electrical program.
