Peace River School Division (PRSD) has received a grant April 21 to help enhance its North Peace Commercial Driving Academy.
The Division received $958,532 from the Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors’ Industry Advancement Grant. The funding will be used to help fund its Youth Commercial Driver Pathway, a project that was created to enhance training, recruitment, and retention of Class 1 and Class 3 drivers in northern and rural Alberta.
“This grant is a transformative investment in our students and the long-term viability of the North Peace Commercial Driving Academy,” says PRSD Supt. Jeff Thompson.
“By bridging the gap between classroom theory and the driver’s seat with high-fidelity simulators, we are ensuring our learners are truly ‘real-world ready’ after graduation.”
PRSD communication coordinator Kristin Dyck explains the North Peace Commercial Driving Academy opened in June 2024 and it currently offers Class 1,C lass 3, Air Brakes, and Class 2S driver training to PRSD students and adults.
“This grant expands our ability to continue to offer the program by providing the funds necessary to hire additional staff for the administrative and marketing side of things, as well as the funds to purchase both a stationary driving simulator and a mobile driving simulator,” explains Dyck.
“The stationary one will be set up here in Grimshaw at Central Operations for use by trainees.”
She says the simulator is expected to arrive sometime in May and is meant to expose PRSD students to life-like driver training experiences and all of PRSD schools.
“Currently, all of the training for the Driving Academy takes place out of our Grimshaw location,” Dyck explains.
“While we have had students from Grimshaw, Hines Creek, Worsley and Manning complete their Class 1 driver training at our Grimshaw location, this will expose students much earlier to what it might be like to become a commercial driver. “
The program helps to eliminate barriers to entry in the commercial driving sector by providing a pathway for both PRSD students and adults. It integrates four components: academic accreditation through specialized high school micro-courses, high-fidelity simulator training, maneuvering yard skill development, and on-road instruction.
In a news release last week, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen expressed his approval for the program.
“This program will strengthen our industries by directly helping young Albertans get the proper training they need to become highly skilled truck drivers and build long-lasting careers right here in Alberta,” says Minister Dreeshen.
To learn more about the program or to register, visit the website www.northpeacedrivingacademy.ca.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter