In a world where skilled trades are the backbone of infrastructure, there’s a growing need to bridge the gap between eager young talent and industries in dire need of workers. CAREERS: The Next Generation is making that connection happen, one student, one employer, and one opportunity at a time. Our partnership with Legacy Heating & Cooling showcases exactly how powerful these connections can be. Not just for students, but for businesses and industries.
Investing in Youth, Investing in the Future
Legacy Heating & Cooling has embraced the opportunity to hire high school students through CAREERS, bringing fresh energy to their job sites while making a long-term investment in the trades. According to Joe Kilcup, a mentor and trainer at Legacy, the decision to hire youth is deeply rooted in the company’s history.
“The owner of (Legacy Heating & Cooling) started in this industry as a youth,” says Kilcup. “So he kind of has a vision of bringing up more young people through the industry. Also helping young people find trades, which has, in the past, been difficult for young people to do.”
That difficulty often stems from a lack of access and awareness. Trades careers have traditionally been harder for students to explore without family connections or personal networks. CAREERS exists to change that. Giving students hands-on work experience while they’re still in high school, and helping employers find the workers they desperately need.
The Skilled Trades Shortage is Real and Youth Are the Answer
Alberta’s housing shortage is a well-known issue, but as Kilcup points out, the root cause isn’t just about materials or demand, it’s about workforce readiness.
“We have a lot of housing shortages within the city, within the province, within the country,” he explains. “A lot of that isn’t due to our inability to build. It’s our inability to staff construction sites or have enough skilled workers. You can have people that are ready to work, but if they don’t have the skills to build a building, we’re not building anything.”
That’s where CAREERS makes a tangible difference. By preparing students before they even step on a job site, young workers arrive ready to learn and contribute. Kilcup has created a curriculum for Legacy’s interns to teach them essential job site knowledge from day one.
“They’re always learning, but they’re going to be helpful and learning right from day one. So they really feel a part of the process” he says.
For Students, It’s More Than a Job
For students like Colby Brown, the opportunity to work in the trades is not just about making money, it’s about discovering a meaningful path.
“It’s more hands-on,” says Colby. “I’m learning valuable skills, and this experience has helped me decide what I want to do after I graduate.”
By working with Legacy through CAREERS, Colby is getting real-world experience, learning valuable skills, and figuring out what he wants to pursue long-term.
These opportunities can make a significant difference in a young person’s life. It also helps industries struggling to find workers develop their own pipelines of talent. Training the next generation in-house, with the benefit of mentorship and hands-on instruction.
A Bridge Between School and Industry
For employers, one of the biggest barriers to hiring youth is often knowing where to start. That’s where CAREERS steps in as a connector and facilitator.
“I know that CAREERS is a great bridge between the school and the industry,” says Kilcup. “Directing students to a company like ours that is going to provide the support from a young age, right from day one.”
With Alberta’s trades industries facing well-documented worker shortages, this kind of collaboration is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity.
“If you’re able to put more people into the field, you’re going to have a more successful business,” Kilcup says. “But at the same time, you’re going to employ a lot of young people and give a lot of young people careers.”
Advice for Employers: Just Make the Jump
Kilcup encourages other companies to follow Legacy’s lead and take the leap into youth hiring. The return on investment, he says, is undeniable.
“The advice I would have to give to other companies is just to make that jump, make that investment,” he says. “It’s going to pay off on both ends.”
In working with CAREERS, businesses aren’t just filling labor gaps. Businesses can shape future leaders of the industry, and create a meaningful, sustainable impact in their communities.
A Model for Industry-Wide Change
The success of Legacy Heating & Cooling’s partnership with CAREERS is a powerful example of how industry, education, and nonprofit collaboration can solve real problems. When young people are given the tools and opportunity to learn, they rise to the challenge. And when companies invest in them, they build stronger, more resilient teams ready to meet the demands of today and tomorrow.
As Alberta continues to grow, the need for skilled trades workers isn’t going away. But with CAREERS and companies like Legacy Heating & Cooling leading the way, the future is bright.
