53 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 770 Province Offers Free Training to Attract New Workers Adapted from Information by the Government of Ontario The Government of Ontario, Canada, is investing $3.6 million to support three innovative projects to help more than 2200 women and young people across the province for a rewarding career in the construction industry. Led by the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario (PBCTCO), the free programs will focus on increasing female participation in the industry; providing online training tools and exclusive employment opportunities to jobseekers; and giving students a first-hand look at life-changing career opportunities in construction. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government will continue to invest in training programs that spread life-changing opportunity to anyone who wants a hand up to a bigger paycheck and a better life,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “We are proud to support these new projects that help women and young people enter the trades and find purpose-driven careers.” The first PBCTO project will help 700 tradeswomen gain the leadership, communications, health and safety training, and networking opportunities needed to start and advance their career. It will also include the creation of a speaker’s bureau to partner tradeswomen with speaking opportunities at schools, employment agencies, trade shows, and other events across the province to mentor and attract more women into the trade. “The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario appreciates the support of the Government of Ontario to invest in and expand three important projects with the organized skilled trades and our employer partners,” said Marc Arsenault, business manager at PBCTCO. “These projects, while all unique, together focus on developing the workforce of the future and expanding opportunities within the skilled trades for equity-seeking groups. As we move forward, this investment supports a fact-based approach to workforce development that will create opportunities for more Ontarians to embark on a great career to build the province we live in.” The second project will provide 1500 people with access to online resources and training tools where they can explore the skilled trades, build core skills, and find apprenticeship opportunities, connecting them directly with local employers. Additionally, PBCTCO’s Tomorrow’s Trades program is returning to provide 60 students in London and Ottawa with hands-on learning opportunities, behind-the-scenes access to high-profile construction projects, and training so they can prepare for life-changing jobs in construction. Currently, women make up less than 5% of the construction workforce in Ontario. C&G
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