Optek Learning: Building Skills, Confidence and Capacity 

April 8, 2026 in News People
Explorer: Spring 2026

Optek Solutions has always been about supporting organizations with a robust managed IT services offering across Saskatchewan. With the launch of Optek Learning, the company is taking that commitment even further by investing in people. 

For Kevin Aebig, CEO of Optek Solutions, the new division is an exciting new chapter in the company’s five-year history. “As we’ve gotten to know our clients, many have expressed a need for corporate training in Prince Albert, the region and the North,” says Aebig. “Topics such as cybersecurity, using Microsoft Office tools, and information on AI [artificial intelligence] are important to our clients, and with this new division, we’re able to offer exactly the kind of training our clients want and need to strengthen their operations.” 

Cherise Arnesen came on board to head up Optek Learning as its Executive Director. With a background in business ownership, college leadership and curriculum development, she understands the pressures employers face and the needs of adult learners. Whether in mining, agriculture, retail, industry, or beyond, many employees use digital tools every day, yet many have never received formal training. “Many workers don’t have training  in common applications like Microsoft Teams or SharePoint or in Adobe Acrobat,” says Arnesen. “Most are self-taught or rely on help from coworkers. Although they’re getting the work done, maybe they could be getting it done better.”

Optek Learning is designed to meet that need. The focus is on practical, hands-on training in the most commonly used tools and features: the ones that make daily work easier and more efficient. Arnesen cites research from the World Economic Forum showing that over 90 per cent of cyberattacks are caused by human error. “Learning about cybersecurity is an investment in a strong risk prevention strategy,” says Aebig.

One thing that sets Optek Learning apart is its recognition that time matters. “We know everyone is busy with their work duties and they don’t want work to pile up,” Arnesen explains. “That’s why most courses are offered in half-day or one-day formats.”

Learners have already requested soft-skills training, including conflict resolution, and Optek Learning is developing new courses. Their goal for all their courses is to build skills and confidence. According to Arnesen, “When workers feel confident using digital tools, they are more productive. When organizations reduce risk and improve skills, they become more sustainable.”

Optek Solutions is Saskatchewan’s largest Indigenous-owned IT company, established in 2021 and swiftly growing to 40 employees in offices in Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon. “Together, the IT division and the learning division help our clients and shareholder communities stay strong and be competitive,” Aebig says. “In a world where almost every job touches a computer or digital device of some kind, the need for short, practical education in this area is crucial for everyone.”