Office to Advance Women Apprentices (OAWA) Alberta is dedicated to empowering women in the construction industry, striving to pave their path towards Red Seal certification. Celebrated on International Women’s Day, the Edmonton office’s grand opening symbolizes a significant step forward in this mission. With a generous $2.354 million grant from the Government of Canada, OAWA Alberta is geared up to offer robust support and create meaningful industry connections for tradeswomen. The office, part of a larger expansion plan including future locations in Fort McMurray and Calgary, serves as a beacon of progress, reinforcing the commitment to diversifying the skilled trades workforce and fostering an inclusive work culture.

The new OAWA Alberta office is located in Edmonton at #177, 15210 123 Ave. OAWA Alberta has plans to open additional offices in Fort McMurray (scheduled for summer 2024) and Calgary (scheduled for 2025).

Carpenters Local 579 first established OAWA in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2009. Based on the success of that model, OAWA offices have since opened in mainland Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, the Prairies region servicing Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and now Alberta (opened September 2023).

To date, OAWA has assisted with more than 2,000 employment opportunities and has provided job-related supports to more than 4,000 women across Canada.   

OAWA Alberta supports 39 key identified Red Seal construction trades. Anyone in Alberta over the age of 16 who identifies as a woman and is seeking support to either enter or advance their skilled construction trades career, or to achieve Red Seal certification, is eligible for OAWA Alberta support. OAWA Alberta services are available at no cost.

For more information on OAWA Alberta and their initiatives, please visit womenapprentices.ca/alberta.

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