Prospective students learn about Lethbridge College's Wind Turbine Technician program. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge College hosts prospective Piikani students to learn about wind turbine tech program

Mar 16, 2022 | 1:16 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Around 30 people, mostly from the Piikani First Nation, came to Lethbridge College on Wednesday, aiming to learn more about careers in renewable energy.

Indigenous Services Manager Lowell Yellowhorn says the College has had many longstanding partnerships with local Indigenous communities and this “experiential learning day” is just one of the many ways they look to advance those.

“Getting involved with Lethbridge College and partnering and looking at the recruitment of a prospective student from the Piikani Nation is important because it now operates in the traditional territory of the Piikani people and the Blackfoot people, and so they felt that it was an important part of their operating structures through the business that they do in the territory, that they find opportunities to develop the capacity of the membership of the Piikani people.”

The students got a tour of Lethbridge College and introductions to not only the Wind Turbine Technician program, but other courses they offer as well.

They got to see the wind turbine areas and the components that go into them, as well as a virtual reality experience that allowed them to go more hands-on.

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Braxton Wells, a 17-year-old student at Piikani Nation Secondary School, said he enjoyed the experience and is considering applying for the program.

“I’m kind of scared of heights, so, like, that’s one thing, one of my fears I want to kind of build-up [and overcome]. So I kind of want to go in turbines because they’re high up in the air and I just kind of want to work with those types of things because it’s kind of cool.”

Wells believes that many people in his community have chosen to go down the “wrong path” in life and he feels that getting a post-secondary education is one of the first steps towards being on a better, more productive path.

The experiential learning day was sponsored by Enel Green Power. Site Supervisor Brian Schmidt said it was great to see so many young people showing interest in clean energy.

“I think it’s fantastic to see that. To see kids not focusing more on, like – oil and gas to me is very important still in the community and in the world itself, and to see them interested in this is great. The more we can get in here, the better it is. More wind turbines we can build, more farms supporting the community’s education.”

Learn more about Lethbridge College’s programs here.