Feds skilled trades funding supporting HVAC staffing program in Toronto
March 24, 2021 | By HPAC Magazine
The Innovation in Apprenticeship program will provide $1.6 million to The Redwood in Toronto supporting survivors of domestic violence by providing flexible well-paid employment in the HVAC trade.
On March 15th the Government of Canada reinforced its message about investing in the skilled trades, and specifically making targeted investments, so that key groups facing barriers—including women, newcomers, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and Black and racialized Canadians—can better find work in the skilled trades through projects led by unions and their partner organizations.
The recent announcement included over $1.6 million in funding to The Redwood, a centre that offers safety, healing and opportunities for growth for women and their children fleeing abuse. The project falls under the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) and is part of the Federal Government‘s $62 million investment over five years to help develop a qualified skilled trades workforce.
The UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training and works to reduce barriers to participation and success in Red Seal trades. Falling under the Innovation in Apprenticeship stream of the UTIP, this project in Toronto will support survivors of domestic and gender-based violence by providing flexible, well-paid employment in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) trade through partnerships with Red Seal trade leaders.
Participants will be provided with supports, such as employment and motivation counselling and childcare during training, designed to meet violence survivors’ needs and ensure they are able to pursue and complete their training. The goal of this project is to address the systemic barriers that women encounter in the skilled trades and help survivors achieve financial independence.
