New program helps newcomers find work in skilled trades

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ACCES Employment, with more than 35 years of success in connecting diverse job-seekers to employment opportunities, is launching a program to help support newcomers find work in the skilled trades.

The program will be based in Newmarket, Ontario, and will also support job-seekers in York region and surrounding areas. The Trade Connections Program, funded by the Canada’s Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness (STAR) Program, responds to current and future employer skill shortages in the construction industry.

The new project is receiving an investment of $1.9M over three years from the Government of Canada, under the STAR Program, which has been created to encourage Canadians – including those who face barriers, such as women, Indigenous people, racialized persons, newcomers, people with disabilities and youth – to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades.

ACCES Employment’s Trades Connections program, delivered in partnership with the Ontario Masonry Training Centre (OMTC), will provide newcomer and racialized minorities participants with streamlined access to employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the skilled trades industry. Participants will benefit from customized construction trades training curriculum that will include hands-on and online training, orientation to trades career pathways and apprenticeships specific to construction, industry-specific skills training and certifications, soft skills solution training and industry relevant certifications Working at heights, Forklift, Elevated Work Platform and Propane Handling. The project also offers support for on-boarding, retention and intercultural training for industry employers, unions and stakeholders hiring program participants.

The Trades Connections program and other ACCES programs and services will support the economic recovery of all Canadians, especially those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

“As Canada recovers from COVID-19, the demand for skilled tradespeople will remain strong,” said Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough. “In order to build back better, the Government of Canada is investing in this project with ACCES to provide newcomers and racialized minorities with the supports needed to pursue quality, good-paying careers in the skills trades.”

“Through our new location in Newmarket and through this funding from the Government of Canada, ACCES is able to build on our successful Trades Connections program and create career pathways in an industry that is in need of skilled labour,” said Allison Pond, President and CEO, ACCES Employment. “In collaboration with employers, the government and local partners, ACCES looks forward to contributing to our collective economic recovery from COVID-19.”

The Trades Connections program will be delivered in York Region with additional activity in Scarborough, North York and Peel.

ACCES Employment is a leader in connecting job-seekers from diverse backgrounds with employers in roles that reflect their qualifications and experience.

Nearly 40,000 job seekers are served annually at seven locations across the Greater Toronto Area and virtually through online services.

As a not-for-profit organization, ACCES receives funding from all levels of government, corporate sponsors, various supporters and the United Way Greater Toronto. For more information about services and programs at ACCES, visit www.accesemployment.ca

For more information on Trades Connections at ACCES, visit accesemployment.ca/trades-connection-program