St. Lawrence College is receiving $774,000 in Ontario government funding to help train people in the skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and logistics sectors. Up to 200 participants in Eastern Ontario will benefit through two programs: Mobile Learning Labs – Skilled Trades and Personal Wellness; and Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics.
“As Ontario’s economy continues to recover from COVID-19, I’m proud we’re making these investments in the Brockville and Cornwall area to help people improve their skills and match them to the jobs that exist today,” said Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark.
The announcement was made earlier this month at Northern Cables, one of the local companies partnering with the college to help shape program deliverables.
MPP Clark was joined by Stormont-Dundas and South Glengarry MPP, Jim McDonell, St. Lawrence College’s President and CEO, Glenn Vollebregt, Associate Dean of Skilled Trades, Stephen Finnagan, and Manager of Skills, Training and Economic Development, Jamie Puddicombe, as well as Northern Cables CEO, Shelley Bacon.
“This funding will allow us to pursue important initiatives that will reach an even wider pool of students which will then in turn benefit our communities, and the local economy,” said CEO Vollebregt.
The local investments are part of a $37 million commitment from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development to help more than 15,000 Ontarians upgrade their skills and train for new work. The projects target students, apprentices, job-seekers, mid-career workers, newcomers and Indigenous peoples.
Mobile Learning Labs – Skilled Trades and Personal Wellness:
Funding of $500,000 will provide technology-enabled experiential learning in the skilled trades including electrical, welding and carpentry, while participants will also learn skills to support healthy, independent living through a Personal Wellness Lab. The learning labs will visit businesses and increase access to in-demand training in remote locations.
Advanced Manufacturing and Logistics:
Funding of $274,000 will go toward funding 12 micro-credentials in high-demand fields including, inventory and fleet optimization, supply chain software, quality assurance and compliance, 3-D printing, cloud computing and cyber security. By providing short-duration skills training, this project will support the development of a talent pipeline to ensure continued prosperity and sustainability of businesses.
For more information, contact Jamie Puddicombe via email, or by calling 613- 213-3830.
