Prairie Sky Collegiate will feature the electrical, transportation, culinary and construction trades. (Photo: Dmitry Kuznietsov/Dreamstime.com)

By CHAT News Today staff

Medicine Hat public schools launch new trades collegiate

Jun 27, 2025 | 9:48 AM

Public high school students in Medicine Hat will soon have access to a new three-year trades-based program.

Prairie Sky Collegiate will offer students education in the electrical, transportation, culinary and construction trades, officials said Thursday.

The collegiate has been formed through a partnership of the Medicine Hat Public School Division, Grasslands Public School Division and Lethbridge Polytechnic.

The program will leverage the expertise of local teachers and educational assistants alongside the polytechnic’s instructors and curriculum.

The two school divisions say they will upgrade eight learning spaces to support the collegiate and plan for more growth in the future.

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Tracy Hensel, superintendent of the Medicine Hat Public School Division, said the new program is a big piece of the future of education in the region.

“Prairie Sky Collegiate is a bold step forward in ensuring equity of access and excellence in trades education for students across Southeastern Alberta,” Hensel said.

“By joining together, we’re creating a workforce that is prepared. This allows us to open doors for students who may not have otherwise had these opportunities.”

In the first year of the program, students will get to dabble in 11 different areas of the four trades, with much of the lab work taking place at their respective high schools, according to a news release.

Students in Year 2 will narrow their focus to a specific trade and spend time at Lethbridge Polytechnic learning the basics of each area within their stream.

In the third and final year, students will be ready for placement within their communities through the Registered Apprenticeship Program, internships or supplemental initiatives.

After working to build job-ready trade skills, students will be prepared to choose the trades pathway that best aligns with their interests and goals.

There are already plans in motion to expand Prairie Sky Collegiate’s offerings beyond skilled trades. Plans are underway to add health sciences and criminal justice courses, too.

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