Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to change the direction of your future.

For recent Carlton Trail College Carpentry Applied Certificate graduate Gaige Babiak, that opportunity came while he was weighing his future options and working between his hometown of Westlock, Alberta and the Wynyard area of Saskatchewan.

At the time, Gaige was employed with an Albertan modular home company, while also exploring additional work opportunities around Wynyard. His employer in Alberta had offered to sponsor his apprenticeship training, but he wasn’t quite ready to commit.

“The company I was working for had been great, and they even offered to send me to school,” Gaige recalled. “That would have been awesome, but I just didn’t know for sure what I wanted to do. I know I didn’t want to be contracted into staying if I wasn’t sure it was the right fit for me,”

While working in Saskatchewan, Gaige heard about Carlton Trail College’s tuition-free Carpentry program being offered in Humboldt over the 2025-26 academic year.

“I heard through the grapevine that there was a tuition-free carpentry course coming up,” he said. “I thought it would be pretty foolish not to take the opportunity.”

The decision proved to be a turning point.

The tuition-free program was launched as a unique opportunity to promote the College’s carpentry program, allowing students to gain hands-on training without the financial barrier of tuition costs. Gaige successfully secured one of the limited seats and committed himself to the year-long program.

“Getting into the program was one of those moments where I thought, ‘I’d better take advantage of this opportuinty and not waste it.'”

Although excited to begin, Gaige admits he was also nervous.

“Honestly, my biggest challenge was just learning,” he said. “In high school, I was a terrible learner. I mostly just showed up to class and struggled. The teachers weren’t very helpful, so I was extremely worried about coming here. I was new to the area and didn’t really know anyone, and I wasn’t sure what the teaching style would be like.”

Those concerns quickly disappeared.

“It’s been the complete opposite of what I expected. Karl Senko has been an amazing instructor and everybody’s been super open and welcoming. It’s just been fantastic. Nothing feels forced.”

The supportive learning environment, combined with practical, hands-on instruction, helped Gaige build both his skills and his confidence.

When reflecting on what comes next, Gaige was considering several possibilities, including pursuing an apprenticeship and continuing to advance in the trade.

“I’m hoping I have enough hours to qualify for my second year of schooling and just keep the momentum going.”

For Gaige, enrolling at Carlton Trail College was about more than learning a trade. It gave him the chance to challenge himself, discover new possibilities, and build a foundation for the future he wanted to create.

Ready to build your future?

Explore Carlton Trail College’s trades programs and discover where hands-on training can take you.