Canada’s 90,000 welders are critical in building the infrastructure that keeps the country moving. Their work is integral to the construction of homes, office towers, bridges, ships, rail networks, industrial plants, energy facilities – and, of course, airports. But Canada faces a shortage of these highly skilled professionals. A quarter of the country’s welders will retire over the next 15 years and too few young people are completing training and apprenticeships to replace them.
To help close that gap, Toronto Pearson and the Pearson Accelerator Construction Team (PACT) recently committed $300,000 to support the Forging Futures Initiative at Judith Nyman Secondary School in Brampton. As a regional centre for skilled trades education, the school helps prepare students for future careers in construction with a hands-on program that enables them to learn about the industry and develop foundational skills.
The school’s welding lab is the heart of the program. It’s here that sparks of creativity fly as students clad in protective gear practice with the same kind of equipment that is used in live industrial and construction sites. The funds from Pearson, which have been committed over two years, will be used to modernize this essential facility and help the school expand access to education in the skilled trades to even more students.
“It’s going to change a lot of students’ futures,” said Frank Meleca, Head of Technology at Judith Nyman SS. “We have many students who come here just for the skilled trades, which is amazing. And now they can see that it’s not only the school, the school board and teachers that believe in them, we also have third parties that are investing money into their futures.”
As the airport progresses with Pearson LIFT, its transformation into a more connected airport, a stronger economic gateway and a better travel experience, it is deepening its commitment to enhancing the talent pipeline for the construction industry. Alongside the support for Judith Nyman SS, Toronto Pearson’s Uplift Fund has also made a $1.65-million donation to 11 workforce development programs across the GTA.
The funding comes as Canada’s construction industry continues to be affected by longstanding talent shortages. BuildForce Canada has estimated that the country needs to recruit nearly 300,000 construction workers by 2033 to keep pace with demands for housing and infrastructure projects.
Ruba Al-Nazer, Director of Community Engagement and Impact at Pearson, said that airports have major roles to play in developing the talent Canada needs to deliver its ambitious economic plans.
“At Toronto Pearson, we are in building mode as we expand and modernize to meet growing demand for air travel. That means the airport and our construction partners need skilled workers who can build this specialized infrastructure and maintain it. Our support for education and talent development programs will help create bright futures for individuals, for our communities, our airport and the broader economy.”
Discover more about how Toronto Pearson is supporting a stronger and more inclusive workforce across the communities it serves on our Uplift Fund page.