In just eight months, Nadya Al-Bayati’s entire life changed. As a Heavy Equipment Technician Apprentice with the City of Edmonton, Nadya is living proof that internships can be more than work experience—they can change your life.
“When I first started working with the City, I didn’t have that much experience,” she recalls of her first few weeks in June 2024. “But every day after work, I was learning more than I knew the day before.”
Nadya began her journey through the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP), facilitated by CAREERS: The Next Generation, a nonprofit that partners with Alberta schools and employers to connect youth with paid internships. Like thousands of Alberta students who have participated in CAREERS programs, Nadya wasn’t sure exactly where she was headed when she started.
“When I initially started my application, I didn’t choose Heavy Equipment,” she says. “I was more interested in becoming an Automotive Service Technician. If I didn’t do this, I probably would’ve never known what my options were. This was a way to dip my toes in the water and make sure I was making the right choice.”
By August, Nadya had hit her stride. Her skills were growing—and so was her confidence.
“I felt very different since the last time [we spoke],” she said. “I’ve made a lot more progress. It’s a cool job, I like it. I’ve learned how to do inspections, change tires, what to look for when something’s wrong on a truck or sweeper.”
For Nadya, the transformation wasn’t just technical. “To get that experience, you have to be open to learning. You have to let go of the fear. Ask questions. Even if you fail first, you can always try again.”
That mindset is exactly what the City of Edmonton hopes to foster in the next generation of trades professionals. Dan Bergeron, Facility Supervisor for the City, sees RAP as a critical investment—not only in youth, but in the future of the industry.
“We don’t hire students to sweep floors for seven months—that’s not exposure to the trade,” says Bergeron, who has been recruiting RAP students for four years. “Exposure to the trade is actually performing work: using the wrenches, doing repairs, hooking up the laptop, doing diagnostics. That’s how they get a real understanding of the trade and figure out if it’s something they want to pursue.”
That hands-on experience has had a lasting impact on Nadya. By February 2025, reviewing a video of her past interviews brought out a moment of reflection.
“Looking back at it was a very ‘awe’ moment. At that time, I had nothing in my life planned,” she says. “My confidence grew more as I experienced the job and put myself out there. Back then, I was like, ‘Oh, I won’t ever be able to do this or get that far.’ And now that I’ve accomplished it, it’s like—anything is truly possible.”
For the City of Edmonton, youth like Nadya are exactly why the program matters.
“We’re passionate about supporting youth,” says Heidi Hicks, Director of Fleet Maintenance. “We know they’re our future. We want to provide opportunities, but I think it goes both ways, too—we can learn from them. We love their energy, and we usually get some great feedback at the end. We want to keep that partnership going.”
That partnership is also a reflection of values. As a long-time supporter of CAREERS, the City not only hires students year-round but also plays a major role in funding youth workforce development.
“City of Edmonton, being a very big company taking on students, shows that it has compassion to teach youth that they can accomplish whatever they want,” Nadya says.
Now, she’s looking forward—with clarity and ambition. “My dream job is to be a technician, of course,” she says. “But I want to open a shop for my father—he didn’t get the opportunity to do that. I’ll open a shop and make him work for me without pay and be the boss,” she laughs.
From a young woman who once questioned her path to someone now proudly charting it, Nadya’s story reflects the power of mentorship, opportunity, and trying something new. “Right now,” she says with certainty, “this Nadya definitely knows what she wants out of life.”
CAREERS: The Next Generation has worked with more than 11,000 employers across Alberta to provide meaningful, hands-on opportunities like Nadya’s. If you’re a student wondering where to start, or an employer looking to shape the future of your workforce—now is the time to get involved.
Visit careersnextgen.ca to learn more.
