By using his considerable motivational skills, Brian Bickley has helped Alberta maintain its reputation as a centre of excellence in trades and industry training. He says, "It takes many people to make the system work as well as it does, and my job is to bring them together." Indeed, students, parents, educators and employers are all important stakeholders in the Alberta system, which trains about 20 per cent of Canada’s apprentices, even though our province has only about 10 per cent of Canada’s population.

Toward this impressive accomplishment, Brian and his Board work to get employers to commit to the training of apprentices while also extolling to students, parents and educators the many benefits of careers in the trades. Says Brian, "There are many examples of trades people who have become successful business owners or supervisors or managers." Brian himself is one of them. He started his career as an instrument technician before advancing to supervisory and management roles. Among the accomplishments of which he is most proud is the innovative Co-op Apprenticeship Program, which got its start in Fort McMurray.