Wednesday, July 6, 2011, Calgary, Alberta – Wearing gold hardhats, glinting brightly in the noonday sun, members of the construction industry and the SAIT community gathered Wednesday at SAIT to celebrate the designation of the school’s new Trades and Technology Complex as a Gold Seal Project.

SAIT has partnered with the Calgary Construction Association (CCA) and PCL Construction Management to promote construction excellence in building the Trades and Technology Complex. The Gold Seal designation demonstrates that the Trades and Technology Complex is recognized as having achieved a national standard of competency.

When the doors to the complex open in the fall of 2012, they will do so as the first educational facility in Alberta to be so designated.

“The Gold Seal for the new Trades and Technology Complex is a mark of pride for SAIT, for PCL and the construction industry,” says Irene Lewis, SAIT President and CEO. “We look forward to teaching our students the art and science of construction in this spectacular new complex, which, itself, has been built to the highest standards.”

It was also announced that SAIT’s new Bachelor of Science in Construction Project Management has been Gold Seal accredited.

“We’re very proud of our School of Construction, because they now offer the full breadth of training – from apprenticeship programs, pre-trade programs to the new career path in Construction Project Management,” says Lewis. “All our programs at SAIT related to the construction industry are now Gold Seal accredited.”

The CCA presented SAIT with a cheque for 25,000 which will be used to purchase new learning tools and equipment for the Trades and Technology Complex.

The Gold Seal Certification is a national program that bases accreditation on the candidate’s education, experience and ability to satisfy the rigorous standards of the program. The certificate signifies that the individual has attained a nationally recognized level of experience and competence.

SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada’s most exciting destinations for post-secondary education, offering more than 100 career programs that position people for success in technology, trades and business. A leader in innovation, SAIT also collaborates with industry on applied research and delivers corporate training worldwide. SAIT is a member of Polytechnics Canada and one of Alberta’s Top 50 Employers for 2011.

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