74 YEARS OF SUCCESS
Our Reputation
Delmar College of Hair and Esthetics was established in 1950 and has been in continuous operation since. Private vocational training has been offered in Calgary since 1950 and Apprenticeship Training has been successfully offered since 1983 (the year of inception of the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Program in Alberta). Because we are owner operators on-site every day, we have a singular focus-student success!
Our Infrastructure is Completely Renovated
When the building for Delmar College was purchased an extensive renovation of the entire building (including a complete teardown and rebuild) was carried out over a period of 6 months. Our plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and heating and cooling systems were all designed with an architect from Transept Architecture, specifically with the Apprenticeship Program in mind.
Every detail including 7 separate Carrier Heating/Cooling Units on the roof to accommodate blow dryers that may heat up a section of the building quicker than another area, was accounted for. Hair stations were imported from Italy, and our tools and equipment is of the highest quality.
The Apprentice Program instructional space and Practical theory classrooms are dedicated to apprentice instruction and lab work. The classroom was designed and built with a fully operating kitchen (see pictures included) so that the space converts easily to a lunchroom (with microwaves, dedicated sinks and full size fridges) for the students.
The classroom space is not utilized for any other instruction, and students are provided with lockers to store purses, coats, bags, etc. so that their personal belongings are secure. Brand new barber chairs and custom-made barber stations were integrated, inclusive of hot shave dispensers and hot towel cabbies. Owning our building provides us the latitude to make any changes to our physical building design without having to get approval from a landlord. This also serves to allow us to keep our costs lower, as a result of owning vs leasing space.
We Support Students at Every Level of Ability in a Collegial Environment
Our objective with every student is “Mastery”. We work together to place our students at the forefront of every decision we make. The Delmar College culture is based on values such as excellence, creativity, courage, honor, and optimism, leading to maximizing the potential of every learner we encounter. Students need to feel that their learning means something. Purpose engages students and inspires them to strive for more.
Our staff provides tutoring free of charge for both theory and practical for any students that struggle with concepts covered in class. We also work closely with Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES) to support students through assistive services for students with special needs in our apprenticeship classroom, including scribes, readers, tutors and note takers.
In addition, we assist students in filling out the Federal/Provincial Grant for Post-Secondary Students with Permanent Disabilities (Schedule 4) so that the appropriate accommodations can be made in class, in concert with the Calgary Disability Supports Team.
Meticulous attention to detail and providing the right accommodations in a timely manner is the key to success with a wide spectrum of varying abilities. In addition, our apprenticeship theory tables are specially designed to adjust electronically for either theory work or practical work, as the situation demands.
At Delmar College we strongly believe in student participation in our school improvement plan. We provide lots of opportunity for students to innovate, collaborate, and show leadership. Students are engaged for input to increase student learning and for school improvement. Student-led initiatives are encouraged and aligned with our school improvement plan. All schools may have the required resources to run an apprenticeship program, however, great schools really listen to the needs of their students.
We Have a Stellar Curriculum
The Training Curriculum is designed specifically to cover the “Hairstylist Apprenticeship Course Outline” as prescribed by Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training. As such, all training in the program is tailored specifically to meet the standards of the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training’s 1st and 2nd Period Government Exams. Additionally, we have incorporated business training, hair extensions, advanced coloring techniques, and up-styling, to augment the course outline and better prepare our students for the salon environment.
Our dynamic curriculum includes financial literacy training and strategies for success to prepare students for post-graduation as they enter the entrepreneurial world of business. From budgeting to marketing, our students are able to exceed their technical skills with a well-rounded education, walking out with very impressive resumes.
We utilize Pivot Point’s LAB (Learn About Beauty), a groundbreaking integrated social learning environment, built specifically for learners and educators in the beauty industry in our training program. LAB is designed to engage the learning community, enhance personal learning experiences, and expand educator instructional opportunities, through the use of interactive digital resources and technology.
We Seek Continuous Feedback
Apprentices complete feedback questionnaires at designated points in the program where they rate the training and provide specific feedback. We review this feedback on an ongoing basis and monitor and adjust our program so that we are in a constant state of improvement! An excellent teacher continually monitors and adjusts, just as a stellar program should be monitored and adjusted continually to always remain dynamic.
Our Student Resources Are Exceptional
Our student resources include the following:
- Salon Fundamentals Textbook, Study Guide, Exam Prep Review
- LAB (Learn About Beauty) technology platform, the core of LAB being a synergy of communication, collaboration, and engaging activities utilizing the social mediums and technology that students have grown up with
- Delmar College Curriculum Support Manual (For practical work)
- Delmar College Barbering and Haircutting Manual
