Innovative Community Partner Brings Tech Training to Calgary Libraries

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2019

Calgary, AB — Calgary Public Library is excited to welcome InceptionU, an innovative not-for-profit learning centre, to Central Library.

InceptionU is moving into a back of house space on Level 3 of Central Library located at 800 3 Street SE. Here, students enrolled in InceptionU’s EvolveU program will be trained as Full Stack Developers, meaning they have the skills to do both back-end and front-end development work.

EvolveU is a six-month full-time program that helps professionals rapidly pivot their careers and become job-ready to thrive in an ever-changing digital economy. Thanks to funding support, the program’s tuition cost is covered for eligible learners. Approximately 30 students will begin classes at Central Library on February 11, 2019. Information on registration and class schedule can be found at evolveu.ca.

Additionally, the Library will work with InceptionU to deploy free introductory technology programs across Calgary at select community library locations. The Library hopes to launch these pilot programs later this year.

“It was always our intention to use the new Central Library as a hub for innovation and technology, supporting the future growth and prosperity of Calgary,” says Bill Ptacek, CEO of Calgary Public Library. “This partnership cements the Library’s role in our city’s growing technology sector and provides accessible opportunities to our members to learn relevant new skills for a rapidly shifting job market. They have the expertise and we have the ability to bring it to people in neighbourhoods across the City.”

“InceptionU has from the beginning been interested in building a world class learning experience that helps Calgary meet the challenges of the future. This only works if we can drive innovation mindsets and abilities through the whole city. Partnering with the Calgary Public Library brings us the opportunity to work with a world class organization that has deep connections in the whole community to get to our vision,” says Gregory Hart, InceptionU.

InceptionU offers a new learning experience, focused on building competencies to address skills gaps and meet the demands of the future. This is more than a coding course; EvolveU blends technical and non-technical elements (such as design thinking, critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and personal development) to build and prepare developers.

The program also collaborates with local technology companies to ensure learners are building necessary skills. InceptionU has been operating in Calgary since 2017 and has trained 60 students so far.

Calgary Public Library

Calgary Public Library, with 688,000+ members and 21 locations, has been inspiring the life stories of Calgarians for more than 100 years. It is currently the second largest library system in Canada and the sixth largest municipal library system in North America, with Calgarians borrowing more than 14.4 million physical and digital items and with 6.9 million in-person visits last year. The awe-inspiring 240,000 sq. ft. new Central Library — the newest gathering place for our city — opened on November 1, 2018.

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Media Contact: 
Mary Kapusta
Director, Communications
Calgary Public Library
403.774.7256
mary.kapusta@calgarylibrary.ca