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By rdnewsNOW staff

$63 million total

Provincial government invests $25 million into W.J. Elliott building expansion at Olds College

May 9, 2025 | 1:01 PM

The provincial government has made a sizeable investment into Olds College.

On Friday the Government of Alberta announced they invested $25 million into the expansion of the W.J. Elliott building at the college.

Their $25 million investment through the 2025 Budget is part of a $63 million total investment over three years that began in 2024.

They invested $13 million in 2024/25, $25 million in 25/26, and will invest $25 million in 26/27 for a total of $63 million over three years.

“The expansion of the W.J. Elliott building at Olds College will strengthen apprenticeship training and provide new learning opportunities in Alberta,” said Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education in a media release.

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“By investing in apprenticeship education, we’re creating more career opportunities for Albertans, strengthening our workforce and growing our economy while meeting labour market demand.”

The province says there is a demand for skilled tradespeople and that investing into the W.J. Elliott building is there way to address need.

Once the building’s expansion is complete, there will be more than 440 new seats for trades programming and 100 seats for dual-credit programs such as agricultural equipment technician, heavy equipment technician, welder and landscape horticulturist.

This expansion will also increase apprenticeship learning opportunities for students by improving student spaces.

“Helping students find their passion through dual credit programs is key to their future success,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education. “We are proud to support a strong dual-credit program here in Alberta, and we will continue to work with education partners to find new ways to grow this important program for the benefit of Alberta’s students.”

Since 1971, the W.J. Elliott building has served as a home to trades programming at Olds College. The renovations will include new collaborative student and staff spaces as well as adding lifting equipment, such as overhead cranes and vehicle lifts equipped with highway tractor alignment systems and wheel dynamometers, to improve trades programming.

Construction is set to begin early this summer and is expected to be complete by spring 2027.