You can subscribe to the Skills Ontario Newsletter to receive updates on all things at Skills Ontario by visiting the News section of our website.
The latest Skills Ontario newsletter is out now
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
On this Truth and Reconciliation Day, Skills Ontario pauses in the remembrance and honoring of survivors of Residential Schools, and those that the impacts of the dark institutional practices continues to effect.
Residential Schools aimed to assimilate Indigenous youth and their communities by the removal of young children from their language, culture, and families.
Truth and Reconciliation day is not just one day for us to reflect, but signifies the promise that all across Turtle Island need to be making in effort for true reconciliation.
Skills Ontario reaffirms our commitment to reconciliation with our ongoing dedication to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment.
By acknowledging the past we are able to work together for a shared future where reconciliation efforts become duty and the call to actions are honored.
We celebrate Indigenous excellence and innovation as the contributions are woven into the very fabric of strengthening Turtle Island.
Skills Ontario encourages everyone to learn more through the participation in their local events, and to educate themselves on the dark histories of Residential Schools and the effects that remain today.
Please join us in honouring those that survived and those that never made it home. We reaffirm our commitment towards reconciliation and hope to see these conversations continued year round to better all of Turtle Island.
Resources:
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR): https://nctr.ca
Orange Shirt Society: https://orangeshirtday.org
Donations can be made to:
Legacy of Hope Foundation: https://legacyofhope.ca
Indspire: https://indspire.ca/
Gakino’ amaage (Teach for Canada): https://teachforcanada.ca/en/
Skills Ontario Celebrates Team Canada and Ontario competitors’ success at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026
Skills Ontario is applauding Team Canada after an impressive showing of skills in the trades and technologies at the WorldSkills Competition, which wrapped up Sept. 29th in Shanghai, China with the official Closing Ceremonies.
Team Canada earned a silver medal in Graphic Design Technology and three bronze medals in Aircraft Maintenance, Automobile Technology, and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. In addition to these 4 medal wins, 13 Canadian competitors received Medallions for Excellence, including Luca Assad from Ontario in Cooking.
The Medallions for Excellence are awarded to those who achieved scores of 700 points or higher in their respective competitions out of 1,000. This distinction highlights their mastery and precision, placing them among the top competitors in the world.
“We are incredibly proud of all Team Canada competitors, including four from Ontario: Cole Hunter and Grant Maddock representing Humber Polytechnic in Mechatronics, Luca Assad representing George Brown Polytechnic in Cooking, and Ethan Almeida from Centennial College in Autobody Repair,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “Their dedication, hard work, and passion for their respective fields reflect the strength of Ontario’s educational institutions and future potential of Canada’s skilled trades sector.”
WorldSkills is the largest vocational skills competition globally, bringing together talented young professionals from across the world to compete in various trades and technologies. The competition aims to inspire excellence, drive innovation, and promote careers in skilled trades. At WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, 1385 competitors from 68 Member countries and regions competed in 64 Skill Areas for the prestigious title of world champion in their respective trade. The 49th WorldSkills Competition will take place in Aichi, Japan from 15–20 November 2028.
Read more about this event in our news release.
The latest Skills Ontario newsletter is out now
You can subscribe to the Skills Ontario Newsletter to receive updates on all things at Skills Ontario by visiting the News section of our website.
New Skills Ontario employment training program sees almost $1.2 million investment from Ontario Government
A new program from Skills Ontario is part of a major funding announcement from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development (MLITSD) via the Skills Development Fund (SDF).
Skills Ontario is receiving almost $1.2 million for a new program part of it’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives called the Trade Up, Move Up Program.
The Trade Up, Move Up Program will support 250 individuals looking to enter the skilled trades. Participants in this program will receive training, employment, and wrap around support from case workers. This program will run in major communities across Ontario, including the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Windsor, and Sault Ste. Marie.
Read the rest of the news release here.
Become the next president of the Skills Ontario Alumni Association! Applications due by August 16th
Did you know Skills Ontario is Canada’s largest and most successful organization that promotes skilled trades and technologies to young people in elementary school, secondary school, and beyond?
The Skills Ontario Alumni Association (SOAA) brings together former competitors and participants from across every competition area, education stage, and language community to give back to the next generation and to champion the trades and technologies that shaped them.
We are seeking the next president of the Skills Ontario Alumni Association to serve as the principal volunteer leader and public representative of the alumni community, and also serves as Ontario’s representative on the Skills Canada National Alumni Committee. This is a volunteer leadership position with no remuneration.
Interested individuals looking to change lives and inspire skilled trade and technology leaders can visit our Alumni Committee webpage to learn more about the alumni committee and find more details about applying for this volunteer role.
Skills Ontario calls for Government of Ontario to keep investing in skilled trades programming ahead of 2026 Economic Budget
Amidst economic uncertainty and skilled trade shortages, Skills Ontario is
recommending continued investments in skilled trade and technology promotion, training
and programming from the provincial government ahead of the 2026 Budget. Skills
Ontario recognizes and applauds the government’s commitment to the investment it has
made to build our future workforce.
“Ontario’s skilled professionals continue to be critical in keeping our economy, our
healthcare system, and our society operating. We are making a difference in dispelling the
myths and improving the image of skilled professionals thanks to the support and
partnership of the provincial government,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario.
“Through this work, more people have a far different view of what these essential careers
are and realize how important these skills are.”
Skills Ontario is recommending multi-year commitments to scale up all efforts to
encourage more youth to pursue careers in skilled trades and technologies, including the
following items:
- Funding to aid the development of a permanent Skilled Trades & Tech exploration
facility to highlight careers and provide a training facility for competitors, - Increase support for the Skills Ontario Competition, the largest in the country
- And increase funding for the Skills Development Fund.
Read the rest of the news release here.
Skills Ontario Celebrates the Expansion of Trades & Tech Truck Program
Skills Ontario is expanding its fleet of Trades & Tech mobile unit thanks to support from the Ontario Government. The provincial government announced this morning it’s investment in Skills Ontario to expand experiential opportunities for Ontario’s future workforce.
“Ontario’s future relies on a strong, skilled workforce,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “With more trades and tech trucks on the road — bringing VR learning, simulators and hands-on stations directly to Ontario’s youth — we’re inspiring the next generation and opening pathways to good-paying careers in the skilled trades.”
“Skills Ontario is thrilled to add two more mobile learning units to our Trades & Tech Truck program. These mobile units provide experiential opportunities inspiring young people to explore careers in the trades,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO, Skills Ontario. “We thank the Ford government and Minister Piccini for their support and leadership in promoting the trades and building the skilled workforce of the future. Together, we are changing lives and inspiring leaders through skilled trades and technologies.”
Read the rest of the news release here.
Skills Ontario celebrates Team Ontario competitors winning 30 medals from the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition
After two days of showcasing their skills, Team Ontario returns home from the 2025 Skills Canada National Competition in Regina with 30 medals. At a Closing Ceremony on May 31st following the Skills Canada National Competition, which took place from May 29th to May 30th, Team Ontario took home 30 medals: 13 gold medals, nine silver medals, and eight bronze medals.
Read the full news release here.
Skills Ontario receives the 2025 Leading on Diversity – Community Award
Skills Ontario is proud to receive the 2025 Leading on Diversity – Community Award from the Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN).
Presented to only 10 recipients, Skills Ontario was chosen for its work and commitment to community benefit programs through its longstanding investment in workforce development initiatives that prioritize equity-deserving groups, including women, Indigenous communities, newcomers, racialized youth, and persons with disabilities.
The award was presented to the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Indigenous Relations, Ashley Cuglietta, at the Canadian Building Diversity Awards & Community Benefits Summit in Toronto.
“We are grateful the nominations committee has selected Skills Ontario to be one of 10 recipients for the Leading on Diversity – Community Award, and for the opportunity to highlight the work we do to help break down barriers and foster an inclusive environment in the skilled trades,” said Cuglietta about the award.
Read the news release here.
