Deltec Power and Control Systems Ltd. today announced a $200,000 gift to benefit skilled trades and technologies training at Lethbridge College. A long-time industry leader, Deltec is once again showing the way, becoming the first electrical contractor to financially support the college’s new trades and technologies facility.
“We see this as an investment in the current and future tradespeople needed in southern Alberta and throughout our province,” says Al deBoer, co-owner and president of Deltec Power. “As a local, family-owned business, we are proud to be part of the Possibilities are Endless campaign as we feel it is important to assist the next wave of apprentices in learning their trade.”
The gift will lead to the creation of the Deltec Power Electrical Lab, a state-of-the-art learning environment that will be located in phase two of Lethbridge College’s trades and technologies facility. Electrician Apprenticeship Training is one of five programs that will move into the second phase of the facility, which is scheduled to open in August 2017.
“The college has a long and proud history of providing industry-caliber training to electrical apprentices,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns. “By stepping up as the first electrical company to donate towards our new facility, Deltec Power is confirming the quality of our training program and is sharing their desire to build in southern Alberta. We appreciate that support, and we look forward to the opportunities that the new electrical lab will provide to our students.”
A Lethbridge-based company, Deltec Power opened in 1994 and is co-owned by three members of the deBoer family – brothers Al and Dave, and Al’s wife, Gina. Al deBoer took part of his electrical apprenticeship training at the college, and completed his training at SAIT before the college offered the full four-year apprenticeship program. Dave deBoer took all of his electrician training at Lethbridge College, graduating in 1991. Their company is now one of the largest electrical contracting businesses in the city, employing approximately 50 journeymen and apprentice electricians, while also operating an office in Calgary. The company prides itself on providing high-quality commercial and industrial service across western Canada.
“The new, state-of-the-art facility at the college will provide our employees with the required advanced technical training,” says deBoer. “Couple that with our internal, on-the-job training, and we will be able to continue to turn out highly skilled tradespeople in our company.”
The first phase of Lethbridge College’s trades and technologies facility officially opened on Sept. 30, 2015. When completed in 2017, the facility will be the largest centre of its kind south of Calgary and will house students in multiple skilled trades and technology programs.
You can find more information on the new trades and technologies facility and the Possibilities are Endless campaign online.