The 2025 All Canada Progress Meeting (ACPM), held in Calgary, marks a pivotal moment for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) as members and leaders from across the country gather to reflect, strategize, and strengthen the union's collective future.
For IBEW Local 424, this year’s meeting is an opportunity to highlight the strength, resilience, and innovation that define Alberta’s electrical workforce. Representing a vast and dynamic membership across the province, Local 424 has consistently led the way in apprenticeship training, safety standards, and political advocacy. The ACPM allows Local 424 to share its best practices and to contribute to shaping national policy on issues that affect all unionized electrical workers—from apprenticeship ratios and jobsite safety to enforcement of fair wage policies.
One of the key contributions Local 424 brings to the table is its forward-thinking approach to education and workforce development. Through its partnership with the Electrical Industry Training Centre of Alberta (EITCA), Local 424 continues to invest in high-quality training programs that ensure members are equipped with the latest skills for today’s complex electrical systems. From foundational technical skills to the latest updates in the Canadian Electrical Code, these programs help maintain a highly skilled and job-ready workforce.
In Calgary, Local 424 also has a chance to push for meaningful national discussion on critical issues like double-breasting and the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect unionized workers and contractors. These are not just Alberta issues—they are national concerns that impact the strength of the IBEW across Canada.
Local 424 has also played an active role in lobbying for major industrial projects that will drive job growth and economic development, such as the proposed deployment of Small Modular Reactors and the new Dow Chemical ethylene production facility in Fort Saskatchewan. These projects are expected to generate significant employment opportunities for skilled tradespeople and demonstrate the importance of having a strong, unionized workforce ready to meet the demands of large-scale construction.
As we gather in Calgary for the 2025 ACPM, it’s clear that Local 424’s presence brings depth to the dialogue and strength to the shared vision for a more prosperous and equitable future for all IBEW members. Our participation underscores our commitment to unity, solidarity, and a high standard of professionalism in every jurisdiction we operate.
The work done at this conference doesn’t end when the meeting adjourns. It becomes the roadmap for the future of unionized electrical work in Canada, and Local 424 is proud to be part of that journey.