(Image Credit: Red Deer Polytechnic/Supplied)

By Ian Gustafson

Jan. 26

RDP celebrates opening of CACI learning space

Jan 26, 2026 | 5:17 PM

Students of the Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI) officially have a new learning space.

On Monday, Jan. 26, Red Deer Polytechnic celebrated the grand opening of the new space, which is located on RDP’s main campus.

It is meant for dual-credit middle school and high school students to learn multiple trades.

“We are excited to unveil this newly renovated space that will enhance the education and training of CACI students,” said Lindsay Engel, vice president, academic and student experience at RDP. “Through our CACI partnership, we are preparing students for in-demand careers in the skilled trades while addressing a vital need in Alberta’s labour market.”

The upgraded learning spaces for CACI include classrooms in RDP’s on the east side of the main campus, along with shop upgrades.

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These improvements were made possible through a $2.6 million investment from the Government of Alberta.

Tracey Millar, program coordinator at CACI, said this year they welcomed 552 students into CACI at the Polytechnic, which marks a 58 per cent increase from the 350 students last year.

She added that by next year, they hope to double the number of students.

“Those are opportunities for students who would never get an opportunity to have a hands-on experience or have access to industry-level programming and training,” she said. “For our CACI students, this is a big moment.”

CACI is a collaboration between RDP, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, Red Deer Public Schools, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, Wolf Creek Public Schools, Chinook’s Edge School Division, and Careers.

Together as partners, they aim to equip middle and high school kids with skills, mentorship, and career coaching.

The students have access to nine dual credit programs at RDP, including plumber, carpenter, electrician, automotive service technician, heavy equipment technician, parts technician, pipefitter, welder, and sprinkler systems installer.

Meantime, program options for secondary students continue to grow, as this February, RDP will launch a three-credit CACI plumbing, carpenter, and electrician program.

Millar explained they have kids as young as Grade 7 all the way up to an additional year of high school.

“Students are working on a variety of new projects here,” Millar said of the new space.

“Our incredible teacher designs projects that the students can participate in, and it takes them down different trade pathways. We start with a really wide filter, and then we narrow that down so student experiences are wide.”

With 17 apprenticeship programs at RDP, they play a vital role in Alberta’s skilled trades workforce.