Foundations for Trades Success
Celebrating the construction training program graduates
BRANTFORD, ON – St. Leonard's Community Services, Employment Services is excited to announce the first two cohorts of the Foundation for Trades program are celebrating their successful graduation. A timely date with Youth Skills Day on July 15th, this exciting new program links youth between 18 and 29 years of age who are currently unemployed or underemployed with the skills needed to excel in the construction field.
"We are proud of our Foundations for Trades program graduates," says Malcolm Whyte, Director of Employment Services. "Of the 30 prospective trade professionals who completed the program, 26 are already working in the construction field. Connecting community members with skills needed to succeed, and local businesses with qualified workers, is a rewarding achievement for our team."
Foundations for Trades is provided in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s more than $200 million Skills Development Fund and Conestoga College. The 9-week training program includes five weeks of hands-on training in carpentry, plumbing, and electrical, plus four-weeks of an on-the-job placement in the construction sector. Graduates obtain a college certificate in Construction Foundations from Conestoga College.
St. Leonard's Community Services offers various community support from Addiction & Mental Health and Employment to Housing and Justice. The Employment Services Centres located in Brantford, Caledonia, and Dunnville, connect employers and members of our community. The Foundation for Trades program is an excellent example of the employment and training opportunities.
“Jobs in construction and the skilled trades lead to rewarding careers with pensions and benefits,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government continues to invest in the next generation of skilled workers. We want to ensure all young people can get the training they need to earn bigger paycheques and find careers they love.”
St. Leonard's Community Services Employment Services and Foundations for Trades are Employment Ontario projects and are funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Foundations for Trades is funded through the Skills Development Fund, a more than $200 million initiative that supports innovative programs that connect job seekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying careers close to home.
There are two upcoming cohorts of Foundations for Trades. Interested community members are encouraged to register today! Spots are limited and expected to fill up quickly for this excellent career-building opportunity. More details on Foundations for Trades can be found at https://www.st-leonards.com/employment/programs/job-seekers/foundations-trades. For information on St. Leonard's Community Services, Employment Services, visit www.st-leonards.com, or call (519) 756-7665.
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For more information, please contact:
Malcolm Whyte, Director of Employment Services, St. Leonard’s Community Services
Phone: (519) 756-7665 ext. 2406 mwhyte@st-leonards.com