Bird’s Kragnes unveiled as new CAF chair

OTTAWA — The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF) has announced the appointment of Rebecca Kragnes as the chair of its board of directors. Kragnes is the Indigenous business relations manager at Bird Construction.

The new chair is a Cree-Métis woman, a member of the Mètis Nation of Alberta who was born and raised in Treaty 8 Territory in the Fort McMurray region of Alberta. Kragnes has expertise in stakeholder engagement, government grant administration, entrepreneurial development, chairing cross-functional committees and project management, with a focus on Indigenous community engagement and relationship management, stated a release.

Kragnes is also a board director for Women Building Futures, a non-profit organization based in Edmonton.

Outgoing CAF chair Lionel Railton commented, “Consultation with Canada’s First Nation communities has long been a critical aspect of CAF-FCA’s work, and the inclusion of Indigenous voices bring valuable insight. Having an Indigenous woman sit at the head of the table will support CAF-FCA’s commitment to diversity to inclusion.”

Kragnes stated, “There is a lot of conversation around the skilled trades shortage in Canada. There is also a huge opportunity to fill this gap within the Indigenous population and other marginalized and equity-deserving groups. We need to connect, train and provide support systems to potential apprentices, educators and employers to create space for a new diverse skilled workforce.”