BOLT was honoured to welcome the Hon. Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development at The Humber – an Options for Homes residential construction site – to meet with BOLT youth.
BOLT received an investment from the second round of the Skills Development Fund to expand its signature Job Shadowing program and help more under-resourced youth start a career in construction. The immersive experience allows participants to observe and learn from up to 10 different skilled trades and management professionals and discover countless other careers in construction. The program has been successful in creating a new market-driven pathway into employment in the construction industry.
BOLT’s Job Shadowing program is eye-opening for youth participants as they get to discover the many different careers available in the construction industry, some they may not have known existed,” said Raly Chakarova, Executive Director of the BOLT Foundation. “Much of hiring in the skilled trades is still informal so a big benefit of the program is connecting job-ready youth directly to employers, most of which are facing growing labour shortages. That helps to reduce employer’s administrative burden and time spent on recruitment, while diversifying their labour force and promoting inclusive hiring.
The program is open to youth 17 to 29 years old in the Greater Toronto Area who are facing significant barriers to training and employment. All youth participants receive industry-required safety training, PPE, a stipend, travel subsidy, and financial support for any follow-up employability training.
Whether you have a criminal record or rely on social assistance, there are thousands of young people across Ontario who have been forgotten for too long,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “It is inspiring to see the work BOLT is doing, and our government will continue to invest in programs that help break the cycle and spread opportunity to every corner of our province.
The program allows youth to self-assess their interest, aptitude, culture fit, and readiness for a career in the industry before they pursue further training and education that would cost them time and money. The program offers rare access to industry professionals on site for both networking and mentorship connections and as such can facilitate industry entry for individuals who otherwise would not have had the opportunity. The program is delivered in partnership with Tridel and numerous sub-trade employers.
For more information or to apply, visit BOLT’s Job Shadowing Program.
This investment is funded by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, a $560 million initiative that supports fresh ideas for training that upskill workers and connect them to well-paying careers close to home.
ABOUT THE BOLT FOUNDATION
BOLT Charitable Foundation was established as a registered charity in 2013 with a mandate to help under-resourced youth in low-income communities in the GTA access education, training, and employment opportunities in the construction industry. BOLT creates awareness about careers in construction and offers immersive career exploration, provides financial support for post-secondary and skilled training programs, and fosters community and industry partnerships to provide the supports necessary for success. To date, BOLT has awarded more than 500 scholarships and helped start more than 250 apprenticeships in the construction skilled trades. Tridel is BOLT’s Principal & Founding Sponsor.
ABOUT TRIDEL
Tridel is one of Canada’s largest multi-unit residential building developer supporting a sustainable future for Toronto. Tridel has more than 85 years of home-building experience in the city, with over 87,000 homes built. Tridel is a 13-time recipient of the BILD’s Green Builder of the Year award and has over 15-million square feet of LEED® Silver, Gold or Platinum certified and candidate buildings. The company also won BILD’s inaugural Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award in 2021. Tridel’s homes are built with a commitment to sustainable building practices. Tridel continues to lead the industry in innovation, technology, and design.
ABOUT OPTIONS FOR HOMES
Options for Homes, a non-profit, is Canada’s largest developer of affordable ownership housing, working exclusively on making homeownership more attainable for moderate income families and individuals. We believe whole-heartedly that a thriving city is one in which a diverse group of people can live, work and play. We believe in a housing market that is accessible to our workforce, our service sector, our creatives and to our next generation. A city that welcomes rather than excludes. That’s why our mission is to help you get into a home of your own sooner with the Options Ready Program. We have been helping people become homeowners since 1994. With our building and funding partners, we have built over 3,100 homes and supported over 6,000 people with down payment assistance.
