On Monday, Oct. 26, SAIT celebrated the formal dedication of the Jay Westman Atrium in the Thomas Riley building. This space recognizes and honours Jay Westman's (Business Administration '84, SAIT Distinguished Alumnus 97) longstanding leadership, generosity and commitment to skilled trades education in Alberta.
Pictured (left to right) Jim Szautner, Dean, School of Construction and MacPhail School of Energy, SAIT; Kirk Muise, SAIT's Real Futures Campaign Cabinet; Jay Westman, Chairman and CEO, Jayman BUILT and JWI Investments; Dr. David Ross, President and CEO, SAIT.
Jay's leadership helped inspire a broader industry response to the skilled-trades shortage through the creation of the BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers in 2022. Through his advocacy, donors, BILD Alberta, SAIT and NAIT came together to provide financial support for learners pursuing apprenticeship, pre-employment and construction-related education.
That support has already made an impact. In 2025/26 alone, 608 students at SAIT and NAIT received support through the initiative, with 687 awards representing $1.2 million being disbursed.
Jay Westman (centre) with members of his family, the Westman Charitable Foundation and Jayman BUILT team.
The Jay Westman Atrium will provide a permanent place to recognize Jay's leadership and the collective effort it helped inspire. Each day students will move through this space on their way to classrooms and workshops, preparing for careers in the skilled trades.
"This atrium is where so many SAIT stories begin. The first day, the first new friend, the first moment a student realizes they found the right path. From today on those stories begin in the Jay Westman Atrium," said Dr. David Ross, SAIT President and CEO.
Find out more about the BILD Alberta Scholarships for Construction Careers, and learn how you can make a difference by supporting student success at SAIT.
