SPARKING YOUTH CAREERS IN SASKATCHEWAN’S RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR
Internship and training subsidies offer
efforts of employers. Through this
Saskatchewan’s energy supply. As Kevin
boost to employers while equipping
training and on-the-job experience,
Bergeron, COO of miEnergy, explained,
youth with in-demand skills
the program introduces the world
“The Discovering Potential program has
of electricity to youth while helping
allowed us to train and deploy skilled
organizations increase their capacity
team members to our projects. We are
for renewables projects.
excited to participate in the program
Saskatchewan’s changing energy landscape is placing huge demands on provincial employers to recruit
and look forward to a long-lasting
skilled workers. This, combined with
Excellent outcomes were achieved
the projected addition of thousands of
for both miEnergy and the youth
megawatts of renewable energy for the
participants. Participants were
For employers in Saskatchewan’s
province in the coming years, means
primarily employed as solar panel
electricity and renewables sector,
organizations must develop strategies
and racking installers. They not only
the time is right to act on engaging
to engage youth and develop their skills
learned basic construction skills but
the next-generation workforce. By
in the renewables sector.
also had the opportunity to improve
leveraging the Discovering Potential
One such organization, miEnergy,
and problem-solving abilities.
a full-service renewable energy
miEnergy made history working on
solutions provider in western Canada,
Saskatchewan’s first utility scale
understands this challenge well. They
solar PV project located east of Swift
tackled it by working with Electricity
Current, Saskatchewan, while at the
Human Resources Canada (EHRC) and
same time supported the development
leveraging EHRC’s Discovering Potential
of the technical and professional skills
youth internship and training program.
that will lead the participating youth to
The program offers wage subsidies
workplace success. The PV project now
to support the recruiting and training
provides 10MW AC of solar energy to
60 SASKATCHEWAN energy REPORT 2022
their teamwork, communication,
partnership.”
wage subsidy of up to $25,000 per participant, employers can lessen the financial risk to themselves while building capacity and planning for the future. Funding can be used to build workplace skills or specific technical knowledge in young people and help them transition to a career in the industry. For more information on how employers
