Training youth for careers in the trades
By Adam Freill
Construction Labour Skills DevelopmentOntario program will provide young people with a pathway to find life-changing, well-paying jobs.
The Ontario government has announced a free program to help disadvantaged youth in the Chatham-Kent area train for careers in the construction trades. The province is providing more than $200,000 to offer 75 young people a three-week introductory training course in hand and power tool use, safety and woodworking design, in a partnership with Family Services Kent and the Prosperity Roundtable.
“Our government is on a mission to ensure young people have the skills to find good jobs and build better lives for themselves and their families,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “I am proud to support this project that gives youth in Chatham-Kent hands-on training and a pathway to financial independence and a career they can be proud of.”
Over the course of the program, participants aged 15 to 29 will receive hands-on training for work in carpentry, general contracting and construction, along with soft skills such as financial literacy and business communication.
Students will also receive a paid stipend for the training course and a tool belt valued at $150. Once training is complete, participants have the option to work as a sub-contractor handyperson for Ambition Trailer, a handyperson social enterprise in Chatham-Kent. Trainees can also connect with local partners who will work with them to map out the next steps in their career.
To apply, contact Phillip Mock, project coordinator with Prosperity Roundtable, at pmock@familyservicekent.com or 519-365-4042.
