GROW @ MLITSD’s “Level Up” Skilled Trades Fair in Mississauga (Oct 25-27) & London (Nov 9-10)
Last Tuesday, October 18th, Ontario announced the launch of hands-on career fairs - “Level Up” fairs - for Grade 7 to 12 students interested in the skilled trades as the province builds more homes, transit lines, and other infrastructure amid a shortage of workers.
Landscape Ontario’s GROW and Apprenticeship teams will be at the following skilled trades fairs":
Mississauga’s International Centre (Hall 2) on October 25-27
London’s Western Fair Grounds on November 9-10
Stop by our booth to say hello and chat about the benefits of the Horticultural Technician Apprenticeship Program, GROW’s New Entrant & Supervisory Training Programs, and more!
From the Toronto Star (read more here):
[These fairs] are designed to reach children — particularly girls and racialized Ontarians — who might not traditionally consider the skilled trades, help keep some students interested in school and prevent others from “living in their parents’ basements” because they can’t find good jobs after graduating.
“Careers in the skilled trades can pay six figures with pensions and benefits,” [Monte] McNaughton, who is also minister of immigration, training and skills development, told the Star.
The fairs, with interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, will bring students together with people working in 144 skilled trades — such as ironworkers, carpenters, welders and landscaping technicians — along with recruiters from the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), employers, unions and colleges to explain opportunities and answer questions about how to enter training programs.
It’s important to let students “see for themselves” there are options for those who don’t want to go to university, giving them something to aim for and stay in school, said Lecce.
“We have too many people without jobs, and too many jobs without people to fill them, he said. “We are determined to better connect those dots.”