The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) and Urban Green Council (the New York chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council) have partnered to bring Green Professional Building Skills Training (GPRO) to professionals across Canada. The move is in response to the growing demand for skilled workers in the green building field.
GPRO is made up of a series of courses and certificate exams developed by the Urban Green Council that aim to close the gap between conventional and sustainable construction practices. Since the program’s launch in 2011, over 8000 people have received GPRO training across North America.
Canada Green Building Council and Urban Green Council partner for education.
“It is clear that Canada’s building industry is embracing greener, higher performing buildings as best practice,” said Thomas Mueller, president and CEO of CaGBC. “We are introducing GPRO to meet the demand for trained construction professionals which are knowledgeable and skilled to deliver top quality buildings in the growing green building industry.”
Currently, builders and operators are already using GPRO trained professionals to bring LEED into their projects in the U.S. and in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The Toronto chapter of the CaGBC has been offering GPRO education in the GTA since 2015.
“Urban Green Council is proud to partner with the CaGBC to expand GPRO training, making it truly international. Now GPRO green building training for contractors, trades and building operators will be available coast to coast throughout all of North America,” said Ellen Honigstock, director of education development for the Urban Green Council.
The CaGBC is currently preparing course material and will roll-out the first round of national training in the fall of 2016. Certified training professionals will earn AIA and GBCI credits while completing the training.
