{"id":10374,"date":"2025-09-16T13:48:55","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T17:48:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=10374"},"modified":"2025-09-25T13:52:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T17:52:12","slug":"construct-skills-training-program-in-gta-celebrates-fifth-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/construct-skills-training-program-in-gta-celebrates-fifth-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Construct: Skills training program in GTA celebrates fifth anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Posted On: September 16, 2025, Posted By: Peter Caulfeild, Daily Commercial News, Original Article.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct provides rapid eight-week skills training in the construction trades for jobseekers in the York, Durham and Peel Regions in southern Ontario who face barriers to employment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Wood, Construct\u2019s director of employment and expansion, says the organization is celebrating its fifth anniversary in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll have an event in October at our training centre in Aurora,\u201d says Wood. \u201cThe many Construct partners who have participated in and contributed to the program will be invited.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct, a social enterprise by Blue Door, says it solves two challenges: A growing demand for skilled employees in the construction industry; and a need by vulnerable, low-income individuals for low-barrier jobs and a higher income in order to have and hold a place to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Construct program comprises in-class training, on-the-job work experience, formal and informal customized support and connections to employment in long-term jobs in the trades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each Construct cohort consists of about10 participants. Approximately 15 per cent of the participants are women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants in each of the regional programs receive the same in-class training at its facility in Aurora in trades mathematics, reading comprehension, social skills and work etiquette, trades skills and health and safety certifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond that, Construct programs differ slightly between regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In York Region, it is partnering with the Labourers\u2019 International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 506 Training Centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct participants spend two weeks with LIUNA and six weeks with Construct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Peel Region, the Construct partner is Humber College. Program participants spend two days a week at Humber and three days at Construct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Durham Region, the focus is on carpentry. Participants spend three weeks with Durham College and five weeks with Construct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program support co-ordinator Hunter Rowe says trainees are introduced to a wide variety of trades, such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, brick and stone masonry and sheet metal work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe also take participants on tours and workshops with our local partners and unions, such as Carpenters\u2019 Local 27\/College of Carpenters and Allied Trades and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 353,\u201d says Rowe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Intakes of trainees take place regularly throughout the year. In 2025, there are 27 cohorts, or an average of a little over two per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program prerequisites are a Grade 10 education or equivalent, Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident status in Canada, and at least 18 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating, some of the trainees continue with their education and some go back to work with an employer, but most begin apprenticeships with a union. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe work closely with the individuals in the program,\u201d says Wood. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the reasons for its success. Eighty per cent of graduates find employment within six months.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct has just started a women-only cohort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve completed two so far,\u201d says Wood. \u201cWe have another one starting at the end of September in York Region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct trainees receive a wage of $16.55\/hour for a 40 hour-week. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, they get a weekly food and transportation stipend and access to psychotherapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also receive one-on-one support for the duration of the program and for up to 12 months after graduation, to assist in securing a long-term career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus they get additional personal and professional supports from the YMCA and ACCESS Employment for one year after graduating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct is a social enterprise by Blue Door Support Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBlue Door is a service agency that brings innovative solutions to the housing continuum,\u201d says Alex Cheng, vice-president, of programs and services. \u201cOur goal is to ensure we house the homeless and save affordable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur connection with Construct is that Blue Door works in a continuum of housing, and training and employment can be part of the solution of moving from homelessness to housing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blue Door name signifies a door in a house, a warm welcome to a stable, safe place for people who are in crisis or in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Door was founded in 1982 in York Region, where it is the largest emergency housing provider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It later expanded to Durham and Peel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Posted On: September 16, 2025, Posted By: Peter Caulfeild, Daily Commercial News, Original Article. Construct provides rapid eight-week skills training in the construction trades for jobseekers in the York, Durham and Peel Regions in southern Ontario who face barriers to employment. Emma Wood, Construct\u2019s director of employment and expansion, says the organization is celebrating its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10375,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t