Provincial dollars support carpentry pre-apprenticeship training for women at Conestoga College
The Ontario government has committed just shy of $2 million over the next three years to support two employment training programs for low-income women in Cambridge and Guelph.
The funding, which is being provided through the Women’s Economic Security Program, will provide up to $1,061,000 to support the Conestoga College Institute of Technology’s carpentry pre-apprenticeship training program for women in Cambridge and up to $821,000 for 10 Carden Shared Space’s Opening Opportunities entrepreneurship training program for women in Guelph.
“The Women’s Economic Security Program empowers women to achieve financial independence by breaking down barriers to career training opportunities,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity. “I’m proud of our government’s continued support for local, community-based training programs that help women across the province reach their full potential and achieve the career success they deserve.”
The Women’s Economic Security Program offers training in four streams: the skilled trades, entrepreneurship, information technology, and general employment. To help remove barriers to participating, the training programs also include additional supports such as providing meals throughout the training day, transportation to and from training, and support finding child care.
Through the training program, women who have experienced or are at risk of intimate partner violence can also access wraparound supports, including referrals to mental health and well-being supports, counselling, housing, and legal support.
"We are grateful for the generous support from the Women’s Economic Security Program,” said Dr. John Tibbits, President, Conestoga College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning. “Conestoga continues to invest in skilled trades training and resources to help address labour shortages across the province by attracting a diverse cohort of students to trades-based careers. This funding will be directed to Conestoga’s Carpentry pre-apprenticeship program to provide women with hands-on skills training. The program will help women gain their own financial independence as they contribute to the workforce and the prosperity of their communities."
Organizations funded under the Women’s Economic Security Program deliver employment, pre-employment, pre-apprenticeship, and entrepreneurship training to low-income women. The 25 training programs are delivered through partnerships between women-centred organizations, educational institutions, and businesses.
Since its inception in 2018, the Women’s Economic Security Program has helped more than 2,600 women secure employment, become entrepreneurs, or pursue further training and education. This includes helping 1,298 women start small businesses and 237 get jobs in the skilled trades.