Skilled Trades Boot Camp introduces the skills needed in the construction industry

November 4, 2022 · 0 Comments

Written By Brian Lockhart

There are around 144 recognized trades in Ontario that are looking for people to learn a skill and be a part of the job force.

The Town of Shelburne Economic Development has partnered with the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) – a union representing over 60,000 workers to bring a construction boot camp to Shelburne. This is a first for Dufferin County and will help prepare and create employment opportunities for adults and youth in the skilled trades.

There is currently a shortage of skilled tradespersons across the country.

People registered in the boot camp participate in a free ten-day training program plus an eight-week paid job placement with a local employer.

The classes are conducted in Shelburne at the old public works building on Victoria Street.

The program is a provincially funded initiative aimed at introducing people to skilled trades. Most enter the trades at a general labour position and then go into an apprenticeship or similar program to learn a particular trade.

While this program focuses on construction, there are a wide variety of skilled trades available.

“We were trying to get a program on our own, in the Town of Shelburne,” explained Carol Maitland, the town’s economic development officer.

“The Workplace Planning Board made the connection between CLAC and the Town of Shelburne – that’s how it started. The idea is this is a service that allows people [to] stay, or at least be closer to where there live, so they don’t have to travel to the city to get the same kind of training. Most of this training is only available in Mississauga, Vaughan, and Kitchener. Because we are centrally located, this is a great hub especially for local residents to be able to get this type of training, and there is the opportunity to get employment after this course. This course is the first of its kind in Dufferin County. They will learn the basics of the skilled trades.”

Town of Shelburne mayor, Wade Mills, paid a visit to the class on Monday, Oct. 1, to recognize the importance of people learning new job skills leading to future local employment.