Toronto 
The provincial government recognizing Ontario’s impending need for over 100,000 new skilled trades workers this decade, is set to double its skilled trades career fairs.
Anamul Rezwan/Pexels
This initiative, now in its second year, will reach five additional cities: Hamilton, Windsor, Sault Ste. Marie, Oshawa, and Dryden.
According to the news release, the “Level Up!” event series will showcase 144 different trades, allowing over 25,000 students from grades 7 to 12, alongside parents and job seekers, to engage with interactive exhibitions and participate in hands-on activities. They will also get firsthand insights from experienced tradespeople and local employers.
The first of these career fairs is scheduled for September 19 and 20 in Thunder Bay, with more to follow in other communities.
Further bolstering this initiative, the government is allocating $24 million for the 2023-24 Apprenticeship Capital Grant program. This fund will aid 66 training institutions in enhancing their facilities and equipment for hands-on learning. Recent data reveals a 24% rise in apprenticeship registration, following the government’s substantial investment in skilled trades and the introduction of Skilled Trades Ontario.
Per the news release, Grade 7 to 12 students interested in attending the career fairs are encouraged to contact their school board’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) recruiter, a teacher or school guidance counsellor to register.
“In an ever-changing global economy, we are seizing the opportunity to inspire students with hands-on learning in the skilled trades and increasing pathways to apprenticeship that better connect students to good-paying jobs,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education in a news release.
“Our priority is to keep students in stable and normal classrooms, benefiting from a focus on strengthening foundational skills on reading, writing, math. This is supported by expanded career fairs and a new mandatory requirement that all students take at least one technological education course starting next year, so that students graduate into fulfilling careers of the jobs of tomorrow.”
The government says almost 300,000 job vacancies persist in Ontario, and by 2025, one-fifth of new job openings are expected in the skilled trades sector.
Event Schedule – Level Up!, the Ontario-wide, multi-day career fair
- September 19th and 20th — Canadian Lakehead Exhibition, 425 Northern Avenue, Thunder Bay
- September 27th and 28th — The Machine Shop, 83 Huron Street, Sault Ste. Marie
- October 3rd and 4th — Sudbury Community Arena, 240 Elgin Street, Sudbury
- October 17th and 18th — First Ontario Centre, 101 York Boulevard, Hamilton
- October 25th and 26th — LaSalle Event Centre, 970 Front Road, Windsor
- November 1st and 2nd — Western Fair Pavilion, 316 Rectory Street, London
- November 15th and 16th — International Centre – Hall 1, 6900 Airport Road. Mississauga
- November 21st and 22nd — Tribute Communities Centre, 99 Athol Street East, Oshawa
- November 28th and 29th — EY Centre, 4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa
