Learning Centre

Given Chestermere’s rapid growth, cultural diversity, lack of current adult education programs, a partnership with Hilgartner Learning can fill significant gaps.

The following is a list of strategic learning pathways that would serve both the community and the individual:

1. Foundational & Academic Upgrading Pathway
   Chestermere has no current adult education programming, so a basic starting point is critical.
   • Literacy and Numeracy Skills
     For adults needing to strengthen English, reading, writing, and math.
   • High School Equivalency / CAEC Prep
     For adults who did not complete high school. Prepares learners for the Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC).
   • English Language Learning (ELL)
     Especially important given the city’s cultural diversity. Should include workplace communication, academic English, and language for specific purposes.
2. Pathways for Newcomers and International Professionals
   Helps residents with international credentials or those unfamiliar with Canadian systems.
   • Bridge-to-Employment Programs
     Combine ELL, career prep, and workplace culture orientation.
   • PLAR (Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition)
     Evaluate and recognize previous education/work experience.
3. Community & Lifelong Learning Pathway
   Supports inclusion, wellness, and participation.
   • Cultural Competency & Anti-Racism Workshops
     Helps foster inclusivity and mutual understanding.
   • Civic Literacy & Leadership Programs
     Encourages participation in local government, schools, and nonprofits.

Delivery Models to Consider

• Blended or Hybrid Learning
  To serve commuters, shift workers, or those with family responsibilities.
• Community-Based Classrooms or Mobile Labs
  Delivered in schools, libraries, or community centres rather than central campuses.
• SAIT-Endorsed Microcredentials or Badges
  Stackable toward longer-term programs or SAIT certificates.

Testing Centre

The Chestermere Learning and Testing Centre will be your local, secure, and community-driven solution for academic, professional, and language testing. Located inside Chestermere, the Centre will provide accessible and affordable testing services to support learners, job seekers, and professionals in achieving their goals.

What We Offer

• Secure & Quiet Testing Environment
  Purpose-built facilities that meet national testing standards for digital and paper-based assessments.
• Credentialing for a Range of Purposes
  We offer proctoring and testing services for:
  • High school equivalency (e.g., Canadian Adult Education Credential \[CAEC])
  • English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP)
  • Industry certifications (e.g., real estate, childcare, healthcare, apprenticeships)
  • Post-secondary institutions and online course providers
• Privacy & Integrity First
  We follow industry-standard protocols for ID verification, data protection, and exam security.
• Tech-Ready Testing Lab
  Equipped with high-speed internet, certified workstations, surveillance, and adaptive tools for accessibility.
• Student-Centred Discounts
  Reduced testing fees for learners registered in courses delivered by or through the CLTC.

Popular Tests Available in the Calgary Region

Here are just a few of the credentialing exams that learners in the Calgary metro area could be able to access at or through the CLTC.

Credential	Purpose	Common Test Providers
CAEC (Canadian Adult Education Credential)	High school equivalency	Alberta Advanced Education
IELTS / CELPIP	Immigration, education, work	British Council, Paragon Testing
Real Estate Licensing	Professional licensing	RECA (Real Estate Council of Alberta)
First Aid & CPR Certification	Workplace compliance	Red Cross, St. John Ambulance
Food Safety Certification	Hospitality and food services	Alberta Health-certified providers
Security Guard Licensing Exam	Occupational license	Alberta Solicitor General
Early Childhood Educator Certification	Career credential	Alberta Children’s Services
Apprenticeship Entrance Exams	Trades and apprenticeships	Apprenticeship and Industry Training
Post-Secondary Exam Proctoring	College & university students	SAIT, Bow Valley College, Athabasca University

Partner With Us

We collaborate with:

• Colleges and universities to provide regional proctoring options
• Industry associations to offer credentialing close to home
• Community organizations to improve access to employment and learning pathways

Whether you are a learner, a training provider, or an investor, the CLTC Testing Centre is your partner in building local opportunity.

Training Centre

Industry in Chestermere needs to grow. A partnership with SAIT’s Continuing Education and Professional Studies department will provide local access to quality training programs and jobs in key vocations.

The following is a list of strategic learning pathways that would serve both the individual and industry:

• Skilled Trades & Pre-Apprenticeship Pathway
  For both youth and adults seeking practical, job-ready skills in fields with current labour shortages.
  • Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
    Target areas like electrical, plumbing, carpentry, welding — taught in modular, stackable formats.
  • Microcredentials in Skilled Trades
    Short courses recognized by industry for specific tools, safety, or software (e.g., WHMIS, CNC machine operation).
  • Women in Trades & Indigenous Trades Access
    To reflect and support underrepresented groups in trades training.
• Health Care & Human Services Pathway
  The demand for health and elder care continues to grow across Alberta.
  • Health Care Aide & Support Worker Training
    Fast-track programs leading to employment in long-term care, home care, and support roles.
  • Mental Health First Aid & Community Support Training
    For both employment and stronger civic engagement in a diverse community.
• Digital & Business Skills Pathway
  Supports workforce readiness and entrepreneurship for both new and established residents.
  • Digital Literacy & Office Technology
    From basic computer skills to Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and workplace apps.
  • Accounting, Payroll & Bookkeeping
    Targeted at small business owners and career changers.
  • Entrepreneurship & Business Start-up
    Programs For immigrants and locals interested in starting businesses — could tie into mentorship or incubator programs.
• Industry-Specific Pathways
  These depend on Chestermere’s local and regional economic development priorities.
  • Construction & Infrastructure
    With Chestermere growing fast, offer construction management, safety, and trades training.
  • Logistics & Supply Chain
    Relevant if distribution, warehousing, or transport is growing in the area.
  • Hospitality & Retail Service Training
    Especially helpful for newcomers — can include customer service, food safety, and POS systems.

Evaluation Centre

Training centres will have performance labs to help measure skills related to a vocation or field.

Performance Labs

Each performance lab in the Training and Evaluation Centre will be a "micro-environment" that mimics the high-stakes or high-contact moments of a real job. Unlike a classroom, these labs aren't just for learning; they are designed for an evaluator to observe a student "in action."

Here is what those labs would look like across your eight pathways:

1. Apprenticeship (Trades & Technical)

The "Job Site" Lab: This looks like a modular workshop.

The Setup: Individual "bays" equipped with specific systems (electrical panels, plumbing rigs, or small engine stations).

Evaluation Focus: Safety compliance, precision of measurement, and tool handling.

Tech Element: Augmented Reality (AR) headsets that overlay blueprints onto physical pipes or wires for troubleshooting.

2. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The "Sandbox & Deployment" Lab: A high-spec computer lab with collaborative zones.

The Setup: Workstations with dual-monitor setups and access to local GPU servers. One wall is usually a "Data Visualization Wall" for presenting model outputs.

Evaluation Focus: Model accuracy, ability to "clean" a messy dataset live, and explaining the ethics/bias of an AI decision to an evaluator.

Tech Element: Collaborative coding environments where an evaluator can see the student's logic in real-time.

3. Health Care

The "Simulated Clinic" Lab: A hyper-realistic medical environment.

The Setup: Includes hospital beds, high-fidelity mannequins (that breathe, pulse, and speak), and "medication stations."

Evaluation Focus: Patient communication (bedside manner), manual dexterity (injections, vitals), and emergency response speed.

Tech Element: A "debriefing room" with one-way glass and video recording so the evaluator can playback the student's performance for feedback.

4. Human Services

The "Interview & Counseling" Suite: A comfortable, living-room-style setting.

The Setup: Quiet, private rooms designed to look like a social worker’s office or a community intake centre.

Evaluation Focus: Active listening, de-escalation of conflict, and cultural sensitivity.

Tech Element: Cameras and microphones to record body language and tone for later analysis.

5. Hospitality and Retail

The "Guest Experience" Lab: A dual-purpose space with a storefront and a service desk.

The Setup: A retail counter with a POS (Point of Sale) system and a "demo" hotel lobby or restaurant table setup.

Evaluation Focus: Upselling techniques, managing an "angry customer" (often played by an actor), and visual merchandising (arranging a display).

Tech Element: Eye-tracking glasses to see how students notice "out of stock" items or guest needs.

6. Accounting

The "Audit Room" Lab: A professional office environment.

The Setup: High-performance workstations running industry software like Sage, QuickBooks, or SAP. It features large desks for spreading out physical source documents.

Evaluation Focus: Finding "errors" in a live audit trail, speed of entry, and financial reporting accuracy under a deadline.

Tech Element: Data analytics software (like Tableau) where students must "storytell" the numbers to the evaluator.

7. Entrepreneurship

The "Pitch & Pivot" Lab: A flexible, "maker-space" and boardroom.

The Setup: Whiteboard walls, modular furniture for brainstorming, and a formal pitch stage.

Evaluation Focus: Product-market fit logic, ability to handle "investor" pressure, and lean business modeling.

Tech Element: 3D printers or prototyping tools to show the "minimum viable product" (MVP) alongside the business plan.

8. Digital Skills

The "Tech Support & Media" Lab: A versatile IT and creative space.

The Setup: A "Hardware Bench" for taking apart computers and a "Content Studio" with green screens or podcast gear.

Evaluation Focus: Troubleshooting a broken network, cyber-security threat detection, or producing a professional digital asset in a set time.

Tech Element: Virtualized networks (Cyber Ranges) where students must defend against a live "simulated" hack.

Summary Table for Design Planning

Lab Category	Physical Look	Key Evaluation Tool
High-Contact (Health, Human Services)	Simulated rooms (Clinic, Office)	Video/Audio Recording
High-Technical (AI, Accounting, Digital)	Specialized workstations	Screen-sharing & Live Dashboards
Industrial (Apprenticeship)	Modular bays/Workshops	Safety Checklists & AR
Commercial (Retail, Hospitality, Entrepreneurship)	Storefront/Boardroom	Role-play with Actors/Experts