African Nova Scotian Skilled Trades Strategy

Opening doors. Building futures.

The PREP Academy is proud to launch the African Nova Scotian Skilled Trades Strategy, an initiative designed to expand access to apprenticeship and skilled trades pathways for African Nova Scotian youth across the province.

This strategy, supported by the Provincial Government, is about more than just jobs. It’s about removing barriers, strengthening connections, and creating opportunities that last.

A Partnership for Change

This collaboration brings together:

THE PREP ACADEMY

PREP Academy’s trusted relationships with youth, families, and communities

NSAA

NSAA’s leadership in apprenticeship and skilled trades development

Together, we are building clearer, more accessible pathways into high-demand trades careers.

The goal is simple but powerful: ensure African Nova Scotian youth can access, navigate, and succeed within Nova Scotia’s apprenticeship system.

Why This Matters

For many African Nova Scotian youth, entering the skilled trades hasn’t always been straightforward.

Barriers such as:

Limited access to mentorship
Lack of representation in the trades
Generational mistrust of systems

have made these pathways harder to navigate.

This strategy directly responds to those realities by centering culturally relevant support, community connection, and real opportunities.

What the Strategy Delivers

Over the next two years, the African Nova Scotian Skilled Trades Strategy will:

Support 80 African Nova Scotian apprentices in progressing toward certification

Develop a pipeline of at least 40 future apprentices each year, including high school and transitional youth

Equip families with tools and knowledge to support career journeys in the trades

Increase participation in existing skilled trades and apprenticeship programs across Nova Scotia

How It Works

The PREP Academy will act as a central connector — linking community, education, and industry.

Participants will gain access to:

Culturally responsive mentorship and coaching
Career navigation support
Connections to existing training and apprenticeship programs
Wraparound supports that help them persist and succeed

Youth will also have opportunities to move through programs as cohorts, building peer networks and a sense of belonging in industries where representation has historically been limited.

Stronger Pathways, Stronger Communities

This initiative connects youth to opportunities across:

Schools and training institutions

Community organizations

Employers and industry partners

By strengthening these relationships, the strategy aims to:

Increase representation in the skilled trades

Expand economic opportunity

Support long-term success for African Nova Scotian youth

Looking Ahead

Nova Scotia’s skilled trades sector is growing. This strategy ensures that African Nova Scotian youth are not only included in that growth but positioned to lead within it.

Get Involved

Interested in learning more or getting connected?