The agreement allows CEC and PQS designates to automatically be accepted into the Gold Seal program—some without sitting the Gold Seal exam. Meanwhile, Gold Seal certified estimators can immediately earn their CEC designations.

The funding will support a program being run by electrical contractor Spark Power. It will provide upskilling opportunities for 500 workers.

The clinic run by Mississauga, Ont.-based EllisDon has seen more than 15,000 people book appointments, scheduled between May 19 and 26. 

An estimated 164,000 new journeypersons will be required across Canada’s 56 Red Seal trades in the next five years to sustain demand, and replace retirees. Of those, 115,000 will be needed in the country’s 15 largest trades, many of which are in the construction sector.

EllisDon, Flynn, Modern Niagara and Central Ontario Building Trades will operate a COVID-19 vaccination clinic from May 19 to 26 at EllisDon’s head office in Mississauga.