Latest news with #SAIT
Calgary Herald
06-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
Second annual Calgary Stampede Robot Rodeo changes the game to make teams build before they battle
The Calgary Stampede Robot Rodeo launched last year as a postseason invitational tournament, where teams competed once more against each other with the same robots and ruleset they'd been developing and refining for months — but this year, a new game and ruleset is being released for the event, forcing local and international teams alike to build a brand new battle-bot within a tight three-day window, before finally competing against each other for $10,000 in cash prizes. Article content Article content 'It gives an opportunity for teams to kind of bring up that creative aspect instead of being able to just take from what they've done before, and kind of build on that,' said Kartik Ramachandran, whose team won last year's Robot Rodeo. This year he's competing again, as well as helping run the 'build-a-bot' booth for Western Mechatronics Robotics Club, the non-profit organization behind the event. Article content Article content Western Mechatronics was founded in 2019 by a group of high school students who wanted to grow robotics in the local community. Article content 'We've just been trying to create opportunities for kids to try our robotics. We do our best to make it affordable and we all throughout the year run events in the community. So we have this event right now. If you come back later in the year, at SAIT, we're running a 'Girl Power,' robotics event, which is giving girls the opportunity to explore STEM,' Ramachandran said. Article content Article content Competing teams checked in Sunday. They received a fresh V5 Competition Super Kit with all of the tools and materials they'll be permitted to use, and the agricultural-themed challenge was revealed to the competitors. Article content Stampede-goers interested in building a robot of their own can make their way to the Western Mechatronics booth in the BMO Centre all Stampede long, open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. While the teams for the rodeo have already been selected, attendees can try their hand at a smaller-scale challenge open to anyone.
Edmonton Journal
23-06-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
'Significant demand': Canada's aviation and aerospace industries may be short 55,000 workers by 2035
'We're excited for aviation in Alberta. We think it's a great opportunity to diversify — these are excellent careers,' said Josh Brewster, associate dean of aviation and technology at SAIT Article content Growth in the aviation and aerospace sector and an aging workforce could lead to labour shortages over the coming decade. In Alberta, revenue from the aerospace sector is projected to hit $4.73 billion by 2030, while employment grows by 60 per cent, according to Calgary Economic Development. Article content Canada is projected to face a shortage of 42,000 to 55,000 aviation workers by 2035, according to the Alberta Aviation and Aerospace Council. Article content Aerospace and aviation, and defence sectors are seeing a lot of movement, said Nicole Holinaty, vice-chair of the council, which represents the industry in Alberta. 'There's a lot of opportunity for Alberta to really be the leader across Canada,' she said on Thursday. 'Labour is huge in every single subsector within aviation and aerospace. So there (are) labour shortages in every area,' said Holinaty. Aircraft maintenance engineers and pilots often have 'really huge' shortages, Holinaty said. There are also shortages for flight attendants. However, roles in the sector that people don't see, like technical record management, planning and dispatch, and others are also experiencing shortfalls, she notes. 'There's a lot of training that goes into these roles … it does take a bit of time to kind of get the lingo,' said Holinaty. 'We love acronyms in aviation, so it's like learning a different language.' Article content Article content With the current workforce aging, that knowledge needs to be passed on, she said. Aiming to spur interest in the sector, the Alberta Aviation and Aerospace Council launched its workforce development program, Alberta Aerospace Fusion, earlier this month. A partnership with Elevate Aviation, Alberta charity Careers, and the Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace, the program hopes to address labour gaps, particularly in supporting roles, by connecting youth aged 16 to 21 with education and internships. 'It's giving youth the opportunity to get some education and get some training in the classroom and then take that and actually put that to work through an internship,' said Holinaty. 'So our hopes are that this creates quite a rumble of interested youth.' Despite the shortage being forecast for 2035, Holinaty said, 'this is real, that this has to be addressed today.' Enrolment in aviation programs nearly doubled since 2019 The University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology all have programs related to aerospace and aviation. An Aerospace Innovation Hub — operated by the U of C with the help of several partner organizations — gives aerospace startups and entrepreneurs support and funding, while allowing them a place to test their technologies. Aircraft maintenance engineers and structures technicians are among those trained at SAIT's Art Smith Aero Centre, located at the Calgary International Airport. They also provide diplomas in avionics technology and, more recently, certificates for remotely piloted aircraft (drones). The institution is just shy of 400 students at its aviation campus this year, said Josh Brewster, associate dean of aviation and technology at SAIT's school of transportation. Article content 'We're excited for aviation in Alberta. We think it's a great opportunity to diversify — these are excellent careers,' said Brewster. High demand for positions, particularly aircraft maintenance engineers, is being driven by companies like WestJet and Lufthansa Technik, the latter of which signed an agreement with SAIT to develop new aviation training. Lufthansa provides maintenance for WestJet's LEAP-1B engines on its fleet of Boeing 737's. In February, the two companies signed a long-term agreement valued up to US$3 billion, part of which involves the construction of a new engine maintenance facility at the airport. Aerospace and aviation programming at the school has nearly doubled since 2019, made possible through their partnership with the Government of Alberta, according to Brewster. 'Like so many industries, the aviation sector is not only growing, but it's experiencing an aging workforce and retirements. So between those two things, there's definitely a significant demand,' he said. As de Havilland looks to expand its footprint in the Calgary area, the expectation is that will further add to demand, according to Brewster. Additionally, a feasibility study is exploring a potential significant expansion of SAIT's current airport facility. Brewster was unable to provide further information about the study or which partners are involved. Latest National Stories
Calgary Herald
23-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
'Significant demand': Canada's aviation and aerospace industries may be short 55,000 workers by 2035
Article content Article content The University of Calgary, Mount Royal University and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology all have programs related to aerospace and aviation. Article content An Aerospace Innovation Hub — operated by the U of C with the help of several partner organizations — gives aerospace startups and entrepreneurs support and funding, while allowing them a place to test their technologies. Article content Aircraft maintenance engineers and structures technicians are among those trained at SAIT's Art Smith Aero Centre, located at the Calgary International Airport. They also provide diplomas in avionics technology and, more recently, certificates for remotely piloted aircraft (drones). Article content The institution is just shy of 400 students at its aviation campus this year, said Josh Brewster, associate dean of aviation and technology at SAIT's school of transportation. Article content Article content 'We're excited for aviation in Alberta. We think it's a great opportunity to diversify — these are excellent careers,' said Brewster. Article content High demand for positions, particularly aircraft maintenance engineers, is being driven by companies like WestJet and Lufthansa Technik, the latter of which signed an agreement with SAIT to develop new aviation training. Article content Lufthansa provides maintenance for WestJet's LEAP-1B engines on its fleet of Boeing 737's. In February, the two companies signed a long-term agreement valued up to US$3 billion, part of which involves the construction of a new engine maintenance facility at the airport. Article content Aerospace and aviation programming at the school has nearly doubled since 2019, made possible through their partnership with the Government of Alberta, according to Brewster. Article content 'Like so many industries, the aviation sector is not only growing, but it's experiencing an aging workforce and retirements. So between those two things, there's definitely a significant demand,' he said. Article content As de Havilland looks to expand its footprint in the Calgary area, the expectation is that will further add to demand, according to Brewster. Article content
Calgary Herald
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Despite some heated moments, fond memories of G8 summit 23 years later
Article content But she said ultimately, there was little need for such an assurance. Both the protesters and the police were on their best behaviour and there were no real instances of serious violence. Article content 'The protests were well-attended and well-policed, the police were outwardly very friendly,' said Farrell. Article content 'Council was kept apprised of the planning by the security groups,' she added. 'There was a real effort to keep the security subtle even though (serious contingencies) existed behind the scenes.' Article content But Farrell, who served on council from 2001 to 2021, said she wonders if police will take the same tack during the 2025 G7, when they oversee demonstrations in Calgary, where many of the participating entourages will be spending the night. Article content Article content Article content Retired defence lawyer Stephen Jenuth was part of an 80-member team monitoring the conduct of protesters and police during the 2002 summit. Article content He recalls one period of pandemonium when protesters were pressing against a security cordon on the Stampede grounds. Article content 'It was pretty intense, they were going to knock down a fence and one of my observers was standing on the fence,' said Jenuth, who was then the president of the Alberta Civil Liberties Association. Article content 'You could the police with the soft hats disappearing and ones with the hard hats coming forward. I was fiddling with my gas mask.' Article content But he said that situation was ultimately defused and there wasn't much more to be concerned about despite demonstrations that sometimes attracted nearly 3,000 activists and hordes of police. Article content His team that included members of Amnesty International would ride bicycles from SAIT into downtown where they'd observe 'how demonstrators were treated and how they behaved.' Article content Article content They were equipped with $10 cameras to document any unreasonable action while slinging Polish-made gas masks, said Jenuth. Article content For the most part, both sides acquitted themselves admirably and the gas masks were never used, he said. Article content 'We were there to make people feel confident in what they were doing,' said Jenuth. 'The protesters were able to get their points across peacefully.' Article content At one point, only one protester made it to the cells, an activist soon dubbed 'the $400-million man.' Article content Environmentalist Patricia Letizia said she was gratified to see the priority placed on ecology by activists and even some of the summit participants. Article content 'I was really impressed with the environmental focus and it was even kind of exciting to see all the security initiatives,' said Letizia, past CEO of Alberta Ecotrust.
Calgary Herald
16-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Bow Valley College lays off 103 employees amid $15.6M budget shortfall
Bow Valley College cut 103 staffers due to a budget shortfall of $15.6 million triggered by a decline in international student enrolment. Article content Article content Another cause for the institution's predicament is federal funding reductions for programs, including the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada and the Foundational Learning Assistance Program. Article content 'The college had to find efficiencies and make difficult decisions,' a statement by the college read, adding that jobs slashed included 97 occupied positions and six vacant roles. Article content Article content 'The college is committed to supporting its employees through these changes as we continue adapting to developments in the post-secondary landscape.' Article content Article content The pool of international students has been drying up as the federal government caps the flow of student permits to ease the pressure of a surging population. Article content However, the prospect of fewer international students, who are charged three or four times the domestic tuition fees, has left post-secondary institutions reeling as they grapple with historic funding shortfalls from federal and provincial governments. Article content Most recently, SAIT has confirmed its photojournalism major — one of the last programs of its kind in Canada — will be discontinued this year, thanks to a loss of international students. Article content
