Province pledges $800K to Niagara College pre-apprenticeship project
The Ontario government has pledged more than $800,000 in support of a pre-apprenticeship training project at Niagara College.
The project aims to provide 45 students who are interested in working in the trades gain the skills and experience they need in the automotive service, electrical contractor and industrial millwright fields.
“Ontario’s skilled trades are vital to the growth of the economy and our government’s Plan to Build strategy, offering careers that lead to secure jobs and a good quality of life,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West. “We know in-demand jobs in the skilled trades and other critical sectors continue to grow and this important funding helps local postsecondary institutions like Niagara College close the skills gap.”
The program is designed with a wholistic approach to career preparation, bringing together academic upgrading, job readiness, in-class theory and industry-lab exposure. It will culminate with a paid, eight-week work placement where students will benefit from mentorship from industry professionals. The funding from the province will help cover tuition, training materials, tools, personal protective equipment, and employer wage subsidies.
“The pre-apprenticeship program at Niagara College is an exciting opportunity for those who may have considered a career in the skilled trades, but faced barriers to take the next steps,” said Fiona Allan, Academic Vice-President at Niagara College. “Students are benefiting from hands-on training in a supportive environment followed by a paid work placement and industry mentorship. The program is providing eager job seekers a chance to secure long-term employment and is a win for local employers in need of skilled tradespeople.”
The first intake of the pre-apprenticeship program at Niagara College began in May 2023 with fifteen students in each of the three streams: Automotive Service Technician; Electrician – Construction and Maintenance, and Industrial Millwright Mechanic.
This funding announced is part of the government’s nearly $1.5 billion-investment in the Skilled Trades Strategy.