WEYBURN — The Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show was an opportunity for education officials to highlight Saskatchewan Distance Learning Corporation’s offerings of Oil and Gas 20 and 30 courses.
Sask. DLC has been offering the courses over the last two years to high school students in grades 10 to 12. The Oil and Gas 20 course was launched first in 2024, followed by the 30-level course in 2025.
Education Minister Everett Hindley said the courses are provided online through Sask. DLC and also include work placements with a number of oil and gas companies in southeast Saskatchewan.
“So not only do they get to learn some theory but they get to do some hands-on work and get to have a better understanding and gain some knowledge with respect to the oil and gas sector, what that means in terms of everything from start to finish, and set themselves up for careers in the energy sector,” said Hindley.
According to the province, the courses offer 50 hours of online theory along with 50 hours of industry-supported work placement, where the students learn about safety, operations, environmental practices and career pathways in the industry.
To this point, the courses have been well received, with 37 students having enroled.
“It's been a very, very successful course,” Hindley said, adding there “is a waiting list of students who want to take these courses through the DLC.”
Hindley considers the course a success and particularly praised the partnerships with the oil and gas industry to provide training opportunities to students in the field.
“Nothing can replace that real-life hands-on experience,” said Hindley, who noted Sask. DLC had partnered with the industry in developing not only the curriculum but also the onsite work training component.
“I think it shows how in the education sector through the DLC we're able to adapt quickly trying to provide these sorts of opportunities, educational opportunities for Grade 10 through 12 students, to be able to take some online but then also experience that in-person onsite at an oil and gas well site. So I think it really shows how the education system is evolving and providing some really unique and exciting career opportunities in the energy sector.”
In a news release, the province pointed to the involvement of Teine Energy, Whitecap Resources, Strathcona Resources and Cenovus Energy through a memorandum of understanding. It also noted Whitecap, Teine and Strathcona offered student safety training and work placements.
Two of the Sask. DLC students were at the Saskatchewan Oil and Gas Show to highlight their experiences.
One student, Maria Zaika from Weyburn, said her favourite thing so far about the class is “getting to see and look at the machines and the pump jacks.”
Zaika, who did her field placement with Whitecap, said she took the course because “I thought it would be fun to see and learn about the oil and gas industry.” Her future plans are to study chemical engineering and potentially become a pharmacist or go into the oil and gas industry.
Another student, Miciah Willms of Estevan, said he decided to take the course “because I wanted to learn more about the oil and gas industry as a whole.”
“I also thought the work placement itself was pretty, like, exclusive. I don't think a lot of students anywhere get to do that. I thought it would be cool to get a hands-on experience so I could see what people usually don't see.”
He says oil and gas is what he wants to do after school. During his placement with Whitecap, Willms said he received hands-on training.
“I've heard from many operators that they themselves don't even get as much training or as much knowledge as I would be getting right now. Some operators have even gotten only two days of training and then gone straight to the field. It's expected to figure it out. Here, I'm doing a full 50 hours, which takes over six days, which is already more than some people are getting. That would give me an advantage.”
Hindley was asked whether there was thought of perhaps doubling or tripling the number of students to meet the needs of industry, with concerns raised about a potential worker shortage.
He said they would “obviously take a look at any sort of potential for expansion opportunities for this course. We'll do that through our DLC partners and through the companies that are partnering with us in the oil and gas sector to help deliver this and look at any potential expansion opportunities that might be available.”
