Raising the Roof with Women in Construction: Township of Huron-Kinloss Secures $445,275 Investment

Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 15, 2023, 9:00AM

HURON-KINLOSS, ON: The Township is thrilled to announce a substantial investment of $445,275.00 in support of the Women in Construction program, made possible through the generous backing of Ontario's Ministry of Immigration, Labour, Training, and Skills Development. This initiative's success is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Township of Huron-Kinloss, The Corporation of the County of Bruce, UBC Local 2222, VPI Employment Services, Fanshawe College, and The Adult Learning Centre.

“I very much appreciate that the Township of Huron-Kinloss continues to enable women to explore valuable careers in construction. The additional investment of $445,000 will provide even more women with the skills to start life-long, lucrative careers in the skilled trades,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “And in doing so, we’re positioning women for success while addressing the need to attract more people to the skilled trades so we can we continue to Build Ontario - especially in Huron-Bruce.”

The Women in Construction program is committed to equipping women with the hands-on skills and essential certifications needed to embark on a fulfilling career in the construction industry. Its primary goals are to promote diversity within the workforce and to provide women facing employment barriers with an entry point into an industry that has been historically underrepresented. Introduced in August 2021, with a subsequent round in April 2022 and now in its third phase until March 2024, the initiative has attained a remarkable 80% employment rate. It has proven successful in establishing pathways to fulfilling careers for a multitude of participants.

“We need all hands-on deck to build a stronger Ontario for our future generations,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why I am proud to invest in programs like this, which is helping more women find meaningful work in the skilled trades and earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.”

The program's workshops have further solidified this success, with over 50 women receiving job-specific certifications, contributing to the overall empowerment and professional development of participants.

Township of Huron-Kinloss Mayor Don Murray says, “With this substantial investment, we are empowering women in our community to forge rewarding careers in construction, fostering inclusivity and driving the growth of our Township and surrounding communities.”