Ontario Connecting Young People With Career Opportunities in Halton Region

BURLINGTON — Ontario is investing $488,550 through the Halton Industry Education Council’s  (HIEC) new program called Gateway to the Trades – Making the Connection to help 120 young people explore the skilled trades as a career opportunity. HIEC will work closely with Skills Ontario to give young people advice and coaching to improve their resumes, prepare for interviews and find good jobs. This program also encourages students to network and seek mentorship from employers and those in the industry to help them secure apprenticeships.

“Our government is committed to preparing young people for the highly-skilled economy of tomorrow by providing access to training, resources, mentors and other supports,” said Jane McKenna, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and MPP for Burlington. “This funding will help the Halton Industry Education Council continue opening doors to exciting skilled trades careers in Burlington and across Southwestern Ontario.”

Reducing the stigma around a career in the skilled trades and making it a first choice for young people is part of the government’s skilled trades strategy. In addition to this investment in Halton, the government is funding the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and pre-apprenticeship programs, increasing funding for Skills Ontario and has appointed three Youth Advisors to engage with youth, educators, business, parents and other key partners.

“There is a significant shortage of people in the skilled trades and we know they offer rewarding and life changing careers with good pay,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why we need to connect more young people to these fantastic opportunities.”

Quick Facts

• Participants will be recruited from eight school boards participating in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and from surrounding colleges in Southwestern Ontario.
• Young people interested in this project can email admin@apprenticesearch.com.
• As of 2016, one in three Ontario journeypersons were aged 55 and older, and their jobs will need to be filled by the time they retire.
• In 2019-20, Ontario invested $160.1 million in programs and initiatives to support apprenticeship.