TORONTO—The Ontario government is launching career fairs this fall to help future generations of students and young people prepare for and successfully attain well-paying jobs in the skilled trades.
These career fairs aim to address the labour shortages in high-demand sectors and in turn, help provide the province’s robust infrastructure plans, which according to the government’s news release, will include building 1.5 million homes by 2031.
The career fairs known as Level Up! will offer a series of multi-day career fairs that highlight the 144 different skilled trades, in the province. Students in grades 7-13 will have the opportunity to learn about these trades through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. In addition, students will be able to listen to tradespeople and local employees, who will be at these fairs, as they speak about their own life-changing experiences.
The first Level Up! event will kick off Oct. 25 and 27 in Mississauga, with others planned for London, Sudbury, Ottawa and Thunder Bay.
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development spoke to the labour shortage faced by so many skilled trades-based companies in Ontario. “Ontario is facing the largest labour shortage in a generation, which means when you have a job in the skilled trades, you have a job for life,” said McNaughton. “Our government is launching these annual career fairs so more students and parents know university isn’t the only path to success. We will continue to make historic investments to attract more young people to rewarding, lucrative and purpose-driven careers in the trades, and ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow their businesses and our economy.”
According to the Ontario governments news release these Level Up! skilled trades career fairs are open to all students, including First Nations schools and all publicly funded school boards.
Dates for these events are as follows: Mississauga on October 25 to 27; in London, November 9 and 10; Sudbury, November 14 and 15; Ottawa, November 22 and 23; and Thunder Bay, November 29.
Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, shared his thoughts about this initiative stating that these career fairs will help minimize the gap between students and the skilled trades workforce. “We are on a mission to fill the skills gap by better connecting and ultimately inspiring Ontario students to enter these good-paying jobs that are in demand. We are expanding career fairs and enhancing pathways to apprenticeship throughout the curriculum,” said Stephen Lecce. “By placing a real emphasis on life and job skills like coding, financial literacy and budgeting, we are ensuring Ontario students graduate with a competitive advantage and land good-paying jobs."
Skilled Trades Ontario, (STO) according to Melissa Young, CEO and Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario, will be updating the province’s apprenticeship system to the 21st Century providing a transitional period whereby STO will offer a simplified, modernized skilled trades and apprenticeship system by introducing a “digital logbook” which will facilitate apprentices to electronically track their progress when in their career path programs.
“At Skilled Trades Ontario, our job is to make it easier for apprentices and trades professionals to reach their goals and get the word out to more people about career opportunities right here in Ontario,” said Melissa Young, CEO and Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario. “Digital logbooks are part of our plan to revolutionize Ontario’s apprenticeship system, while our new brand celebrates there is a skilled trade out there for every passion.”
Grade 7 to 12 students interested in attending the career fairs are encouraged to contact their school board’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) recruiter, a teacher or school guidance counsellor to register.
Both Superior North Catholic District School Board and Superior-Greenstone District School Board offer skilled trades workshops throughout their school year, often encouraging their students to enter both skilled trades competitions for their grade levels and attending career fairs which have been offered in the past.