Techs for the Taking: SkillsOntario CEO calls on employers to make use of hiring, apprenticeship resources
Toronto, Ontario — The table is set for Ontario’s collision repair managers in need of skilled technicians for their shop, according to Ian Howcroft of SkillsOntario; all they need to do now, he says, is dig in. Howcroft, SkillsOntario’s CEO of the past five years, recently discussed with Human Resources Director Canada Magazine the often […]
Skills Summit: Skilled Trades Ontario to host first industry summit on apprenticeship training in May
Toronto, Ontario — The organization responsible for skilled trades training in Ontario is gearing up for its first ever industry summit on apprenticeship training, currently on the calendar for the first week of May. The province’s recently minted trades certification regulator, Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) plans on “Unleashing Ontario’s potential” at this upcoming gathering of […]
Trades Fast-Track: Ontario to allow Grade 11 students to enrol in full-time apprenticeship programs
Toronto, Ontario — A Wednesday announcement from the Ontario government may plant a seed for the spike in skilled trades interest our industry has been looking for, as Grade 11 students in the province will now be eligible to enrol in full-time skilled apprenticeship programs. With this new decision, students looking to pursue a trades […]
Outside the Lines: Plans underway for third ‘Tradeswomen of New Brunswick’ colouring book
Saint John, New Brunswick — A New Brunswick-based non-profit has developed an exciting new way to introduce young girls to the skilled trades industry through a colouring book series that features tradeswomen on the job. The first two editions of the “Tradeswomen of New Brunswick” are the results of efforts from New Boots: Progressing Women […]
Expert Input: Enlyte releases 2022 Trends Report
California, United States — Enlyte has released its 2022 Enlytened Trends Report, providing insurance and automotive executives with insights on auto, casualty and workers’ compensation in an increasingly complex industry. “Whether it’s workforce changes, inflation, supply chains or politics, each new challenge to our industry comes with an opportunity for growth and improvement for the […]
Skills for Jills: Conestoga’s ‘Jill of All Trades’ program to go nationwide with support of RBC investment
Kitchener, Ontario — Conestoga College in Kitchener, Ont. is slated to get a slice of some newly announced skills trades funding as the RBC Foundation announced Wednesday that $650,000 of a total $3.5 million investment is on the way to support the national rollout of the college’s “Jill of All Trades” program. The one-day workshop […]
Lost in the LOR: Staffing shortages, parts availability continue to boost LOR nationwide, report says
Toronto, Ontario — Enterprise has released its Q3 Length-of-Rental report which, in spite of an impressive bout of perseverance in Alberta amid several severe weather events, Canada has seen an overall increase in rental periods across the board. Nationally, rental periods increased by 5.1 days from 11.4 in 2021 to 16.5 days over the same […]
Money on the Table: Labour shortage has cost Canadian economy $13 billion since 2021, CME report says
Toronto, Ontario — A new report from the Canadian Press shows that the nation’s ongoing skilled labour shortage is not only grinding many collision centres to a halt, but is actively bleeding our economy dry, as $13 billion has been lost over the past year alone. The Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters’ (CME) annual labour survey, […]
Experience Points: Ontario to kick off ‘Level Up!’ skilled trades career fair next week, Mississauga
Toronto, Ontario — In the ongoing fight to attract new skilled trades workers to Canadian industry, the government of Ontario has announced the launch of a new traveling, skills-focused, career fair geared toward students from Grade 7 to 12, with its first stop in Mississauga next week. With its debut event scheduled to run from […]
The Power of People: Aftermarket employment ‘continued to show strength’ over past year, DesRosiers report says
Toronto, Ontario — The automotive aftermarket appears to be leading the pack among the many other industries seeking out highly in-demand skilled trades workers, as the latest employment report from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. (DAC) shows that employment in the sector is up 4.2 percent since June 2021. “The aftermarket especially continued to show strength, […]
