Chinook’s Edge students gain industry level skills at Delmar College

Kat M. from Bowden Grandview School and Ada H. from Sundre High School - are two of the 12 Chinook’s Edge students spending part of their summer at Delmar College in Red Deer. 

Students from Sundre High, Didsbury High, Bowden Grandview, H.J. Cody, Penhold Crossing, and Innisfail High School are participating. 

The students are exploring hair styling and barbering as a possible career. They are part of a new opportunity in Chinook’s Edge, that started in April with the students meeting at Ecole Olds High School several times in the cosmetology lab, and then transitioning to Delmar for 17 on-site days over a five week period in July and August. The students get to learn industry-level skills that are required of first year stylists in their apprenticeships, from Red Seal hairstylists. #CESDCareerConnections 

Ocean Scheelar is one of the Delmar instructors. “The students have been awesome,” she says. “It’s been great to have them come and already be so skilled. It's good to have them get their toes wet with college level expectations. I like this opportunity because it bridges the gap between high school and post secondary, and helps them with confidence. They’re blowing me away with their skill, and that’s so exciting.”

“I like that we get to learn everything college level students do,” says Kat, who graduated in June. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do this for a career, but I decided to try it out, and now I know for sure. I am going to enroll at Delmar this fall. I love to make people feel good about themselves, and of course get paid for it.” Kat says she is also considering taking business classes because she wants to run her own salon one day. 

Ada, who also graduated in June, says she took cosmetology all through high school, and appreciates this opportunity. “I have definitely liked it. I like going through all the basics, and learning everything. My favorite part is applying colours and highlights. That’s the thing about doing hair - you can see an instant change.”

“It’s good that Chinook’s Edge has a lot of career opportunities like dual credit and this course,” says Ada. Ada is hoping to apprentice at a salon next year.