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Dozens of high school students gathered bright and early on Saturday, October 4 at the Rexdale Community Health Centre for an engaging, hands-on workshop hosted by the Unifor National Skilled Trades Council and Brampton, Georgetown, Milton, Oakville (BGMO) Skilled Trades Council in partnership with Pathways to Education.
The electrifying, full-day workshop, led by Unifor Skilled Trades Council Chairperson Ken Anderson, Financial Secretary Paul Renaud, and Recording Secretary Jason Watson, gave students a first-hand look at the exciting possibilities within Canada’s Skilled Trades and apprenticeship programs
“This is about opening doors,” said Anderson. “Many young people don’t realize how many opportunities exist in the trades, or that they can earn while they learn through apprenticeships. These are good, stable careers that build our communities and our country.”
During the workshop, students took part in interactive demonstrations, including an electrical conduction activity and the construction of basic plumbing systems.
For many students, the event was their first time working directly with Skilled Trades professionals. Unifor members from a range of discipline including Electricians, Millwrights and Pipefitters shared their career journeys and offered insights on what it takes to succeed in an apprenticeship.
These experiential learning activities for the students were made possible due to Unifor Skilled Trades member volunteers, including Erin Gouin, Millwright Local 444, Jennifer Jewell, Electrician Local 444, Catherine Costello, Steamfitter/Plumber Local 444, Ashley Jackman, Electrician Local 1285, Blake Noonan, Electrician, Local 1285 and Chris Gentles Electrician Local 1285
Renaud stressed that helping students see the real-world benefits of Skilled Trades work is a key part of Unifor’s outreach.
“When students get to talk to people who’ve built their careers in the trades, it becomes real for them,” said Renaud. “They see that there’s pride in this work and a future they can build for themselves.”
Programs like Pathways to Education play a vital role in building the next generation of Skilled Trades workers.
“The trades are facing a serious shortage of qualified workers, and we need to show young people that these are not just jobs—they’re careers with purpose, pride, and good wages,” said Watson. “If even a handful of students walk away today thinking, ‘I could see myself doing this,’ then we’ve made an impact.”
The session was part of Pathways to Education’s ongoing efforts to support youth in completing high school and preparing for post-secondary opportunities. Since its launch in Rexdale in 2007, the program has supported students from grades 9 to 12 across more than 30 high schools and has helped reduce drop-out rates by as much as 80 percent.
Pathways to Education staff said the collaboration with Unifor helps students make informed choices about their future by exposing them to careers they may not have previously considered.
“Our goal is to ensure students not only graduate, but transition successfully into meaningful post-secondary opportunities,” said Savannah Jack, Pathways to Education Academic Assistant. “Over the past few years, Unifor has collaborated with Pathways Rexdale to debunk misperceptions about Skilled Trades and to promote these rewarding, well-paying careers to our students and their families through our Skilled Trades initiative.”
Every year, Unifor Skilled Trades Council members take part in the Pathways to Education Parent Day event, offering valuable guidance and sharing their own apprenticeship and career experiences. In 2022, volunteers also joined a Pathways Career Fair to chat with students about opportunities in the trades—an effort that paid off, with a 10% jump in students applying to Skilled Trades pre-apprenticeship programs between 2023 and 2024.
Unifor’s BGMO Skilled Trades Council has also helped Grade 12 Rexdale students pursue their career dreams by donating scholarships valued at $750 each and donating I Pads to the students to continue their studies during the Covid-19 pandemic
Unifor’s partnership with Pathways to Education is part of the union’s broader commitment to education and youth engagement, ensuring that students—especially those from underrepresented or at-risk communities—have access to the knowledge and support needed to thrive in Canada’s growing Skilled Trades sector.
View the photo gallery of the Unifor Skilled Trades Council’s Pathways to Education workshop here.
