Ontario government boosts funding of pre-apprenticeship training in region

Windsor-essex job seekers should find it easier to access pre-apprenticeship training as a result of a $2.3 million investment by the Province of Ontario.

Windsor-tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie announced the funding boost at the UHC-HUB of Opportunities (previously called the Unemployed Help Centre) on Friday.

According to Dowie, skilled trades are vital to the growth of Ontario's economy as well as providing secure jobs and good quality of life.

“This training has offered an innovative path to fill employment vacancies and opportunities,” Dowie stated in a news release.

A collaboration of community partners is leading the free training, including the UHC-HUB of Opportunities, LIUNA! Local 625, Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, and St. Clair College.

LIUNA!625 training director Carmelo Calcara said the additional funds will help further acquaint young applicants with the construction trades — such as adding a state-of-the-art heavy equipment simulator to the union's training facility.

Calcara noted that LIUNA!625 has seen pre-apprentice enrolment grow in recent times: This year's 10-week in-school training course had 18 graduates, who are now in the midst of 12 weeks of field training with contractors across Windsor-essex.

June Muir, CEO of the UHC-HUB of Opportunities, said the funding will also go toward the UHC-HUB of Opportunities pre-apprenticeship program for cooks.

Enrollees receive instruction and practice in the UHC'S community kitchen.

“They gain industry-specific certifications and secure a work placement in this sector,” Muir said.

“This gives participants the opportunity to obtain a career in the culinary field, which addresses labour shortages in Windsor and Essex County.”

The $2.3 million in funding divides into approximately $792,000 for LIUNA!625; $375,000 for UHC-HUB of Opportunities; $377,000 for Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor; and a cumulative amount of $834,000 for three separate training projects under St. Clair College.

The training is meant to be available at no cost to participants.