In partnership with the Government of Alberta, and developed with our academic partners Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, Ballad Group is delivering the 11-week AgriEdge Careers program where skilled immigrants will learn and gain access to various resources, certifications, and opportunities to enhance their skills and employability in the agriculture business sector.

This program is available for Alberta residents who are:

• Skilled immigrants with prior education and/or experience in a specific occupation, and who require assistance to bridge gaps in knowledge or skills to gain employment in that occupation or another related occupation into which their skills can transfer 
• 18 years of age or older, Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, or a protected person under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Unemployed or underemployed (working less than 20 hours per week)
• All participants accepted into the program must not have attended an education program under the School Act (Kindergarten to Grade 12) for 12 consecutive months. 
• Able to travel to/from downtown Calgary. In-class sessions will take place in Calgary, AB. 
  

In collaboration with academic partner Olds College of Agriculture & Technology, Ballad and the Province of Alberta is working to provide employment support programs and services

Program Highlights 

Curriculum Overview

By enrolling in AgriEdge Careers, you’ll learn from Olds College of Agriculture & Technology industry instructors and gain expertise in Agri-Business Financial Management, covering financial statement analysis, budgeting, risk management and employment readiness.

• Financial statement analysis: learn to convert cash income statements to accrual, analyze various financial statements, and calculate returns to labour, management, and investment.
• Budgeting: you will classify decision-making costs, determine cost/revenue splits, and develop comprehensive budgets.
• Risk management: you will define risk and uncertainty, and identify and assess strategies to manage them.
• Additionally, the program covers orientation, goal setting, and transferable skills, followed by training in employment readiness, agriculture and finance, business administration, sales and leadership. It concludes with a three-week practical work experience.

Professional Certifications 

• Agri-Business Financial Management Certificate of Completion from Olds College
• Solutions Focused Selling Certificate from FSC Group
• Understanding your Leadership Style from FSC Group
• SAGE 50 Course Certificate from SAGE University
• MS Office Suite Course Certificate from Microsoft

Program Format 

• 11 weeks in class + 3 weeks of work experience with industry partners to ensure graduates are job-market-ready.

Career Opportunities

• Customer Service Representative (Financial Institutions)
• Technical Sales Specialist (Wholesale Trade)
• Administrative Officers & Assistants
• General Office Support Workers
• Accounting & Related Clerks
• Financial Sales Representative

Begin your path in the agriculture and business sectors with Ballad’s AgriEdge Careers program and set yourself up for achievement!

Participate as an Employment Partner in our Integrated Training Programs in Edmonton or Calgary. As an employment partner, you can provide valuable work experience, recruit from our graduate pool, provide guest lectures or facility tours. Here are a few ways you can get involved: 

• Work Experience: The practicum is an optional part of the course where employers have the opportunity to employ a participant for up to 2-4 weeks probationary period with pre-arranged WCB coverage from Ballad at no cost to the employer. When the practicum is completed the employer has the option to extend an offer of employment at their discretion.
• Recruitment: Employer partners get the first opportunity to recruit certified and talented graduates.
• Guest Lecturer or Facility Tours: Grow your brand by inspiring and interacting with participants by sharing your industry knowledge, industry insights and career opportunities. Showcase your facilities and operations by providing engaging facility tours. 

If you’re interested in supporting our participants through any of these opportunities, we invite you to reach out today! Your commitment can make a lasting impact on the journey to professional growth and success. Let’s collaborate to create meaningful opportunities for these talented individuals.