Nearly $3.9M funds training to help 310+ women enter Ontario skilled trades

What’s happening

• The province is investing nearly $3.9 million in four SDF Training Stream projects (Round 6) to train more than 310 women across Ontario.

Who it helps

• Participants include survivors of gender-based violence and other people facing barriers to employment.
• Training aims to lead to careers in carpentry, cabinetmaking, machinery and transportation equipment mechanics, HVAC, gas fitting, refrigeration mechanics, construction supervision and project management.

By the numbers (from the release)

• Total investment: nearly $3.9 million across four projects.
• Projects and funding recipients:
  • Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region: $2,000,048 to help 42 survivors.
  • The Redwood (EmpowerHer Trades): $914,110 to help 100 survivors.
  • Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC): $459,675 to train 120 women for supervisory and project management roles.
  • Metro Labour Education and Skills Training Centre: $496,153 to help 50 women remain employed and advance.
• The release also cites prior SDF results: Round 4 saw more than 14,000 people achieve employment and over 67,000 upskilled; Rounds 1–5 helped more than 120,000 participants find employment within 60 days of program completion.

Program changes in Round 6

• Track employment outcomes at 3, 6 and 12 months.
• Require disclosure of registered lobbyists/consultants in applications, verified against the Lobbyists Registry.
• Strengthen project screening, risk assessment and evaluation.
• Add further risk-management checks that analyze individuals associated with applications.

How to participate

• People interested should contact the lead organizations listed as the project recipients.
• The release says the SDF Training Stream Round 6 is funded exclusively by the Government of Ontario.