Record number of student awards given this year
A record 14 aspiring safety codes officers have received Student Awards from the Safety Codes Council (the Council) this year.
This year, with the Certification and Training team encouraging applications from every student who mentioned needing financial support, the Council received a record number of applications and awarded funding to all but one, who has previously received the award twice.
“This award has not only boosted my confidence but also strengthened my commitment to making a meaningful impact in Alberta’s construction sector,” says Solomon Kanneh, a civil engineer and consultant pursuing certification as a Building Safety Codes Officer.
Award recipient Troy Zieffle, a fire captain and Fire Safety Codes Officer, who is working towards certification as a Fire: Group C Level 1 (investigator), says “The educational credits will help me continue building my technical knowledge and expanding my qualifications, which in turn benefits the community I serve.”
Since 2015, the Council has provided Student Awards annually to Albertans pursuing a new level of safety codes officer certification. Awards are given to students who demonstrate both financial need and commitment to the career. This year, the award covered between 50 per cent and 75 per cent of course fees.
“We are supporting the availability of SCOs by reducing financial barriers so more people can enter into this profession,” says Allison Karch, administrator of certification.
“This support has given me the financial confidence and motivation I needed to finally pursue a path I’ve been passionate about for a long time. The cost of training has always been a major obstacle, but this grant has lifted that burden,” says Brian Ranch, who is on the path to becoming an Electrical Safety Codes Officer.
Indigenous Bursary
The Council also provides bursaries to aspiring safety codes officers from Indigenous communities in Alberta, helping to remove financial barriers and build capacity.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis at Indigenous Bursary Application – Safety Codes Council.