{"id":10398,"date":"2025-10-22T15:35:54","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=10398"},"modified":"2025-10-28T15:38:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T19:38:51","slug":"you-prove-you-belong-construct-celebrates-5-years-of-breaking-barriers-into-skilled-trades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/you-prove-you-belong-construct-celebrates-5-years-of-breaking-barriers-into-skilled-trades\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018You prove you belong\u2019: Construct celebrates 5 years of breaking barriers into skilled trades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Posted On: October 22, 2025, Posted By: Yoyo Yan, NewmarketToday.ca, Original Article. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her language may be raw, but her experience was real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Erin Panasenko, a graduate of the first Construct<\/a> women\u2019s cohort, the Blue Door program didn\u2019t just train her for a job. It gave her a sense of belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen you can be yourself, when people around you see your values, your morals, your principles \u2014 you feel at home,\u201d Panasenko said, reflecting on her time in the program. \u201cI felt seen here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now working as a construction craft worker, Panasenko laughs about the grit of her new trade. \u201cYou never smell good,\u201d she joked. \u201cYou come home smelling like gas, oil, or dust \u2014 but I love it. I never thought I\u2019d like concrete, but I f***ing love it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her honesty, and pride, brought laughter and applause at Construct\u2019s fifth anniversary celebration Tuesday at its Aurora training centre on Earl Stewart Drive. The milestone marked five years since Blue Door, a York Region-based nonprofit, launched Construct, its innovative skilled trades employment program for vulnerable individuals facing barriers to work and housing stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A model that works and grows<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From a humble pilot project born \u201cover a cup of coffee,\u201d Construct has grown into a nationally recognized social enterprise. Since 2020, more than 750 participants have walked through its doors, 80 per cent leaving with jobs, stability, and hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConstruct was born from three urgent challenges,\u201d said Emmy Kelly, interim CEO of Blue Door. \u201cRising homelessness, a shortage of skilled tradespeople, and a housing market that leaves too many people behind. We believed we could address these issues and prove a model that could ripple far beyond our region \u2014 and five years later, that belief has become reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct\u2019s impact extends beyond York Region, now operating in Durham and Peel, with training partnerships through Durham College, Humber College, and LiUNA Local 506. The program offers hands-on trades training, job placements, and wraparound supports \u2014 from transportation and childcare to mental health resources \u2014 to help participants build long-term stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new chapter: Construct Canada<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the celebration, Blue Door board chair Michael Scarano announced the program\u2019s next big step: a national expansion under the new banner Construct Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom a coffee table idea to an award-winning training model, Construct has proven it can create real, lasting change,\u201d Scarano said. \u201cNow, we\u2019re ready to share that model nationwide, creating more pathways to stable employment and housing security.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The national rollout has already begun, with pilot partnerships in Halifax and West Niagara, where early results show strong employment outcomes and improved housing stability for graduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building futures and confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For participants like Panasenko, Construct\u2019s impact goes beyond employment. It\u2019s about breaking stereotypes and reclaiming confidence in a traditionally male-dominated field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to have thick skin \u2014 it\u2019s a man\u2019s world,\u201d she said. \u201cBut you show up, you bring it, and you prove you belong. That\u2019s what Construct taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly says stories like Panasenko\u2019s show what\u2019s possible when communities invest in people. \u201cWhen we invest in individuals, we don\u2019t just change a life,\u201d she said. \u201cWe strengthen entire communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With new partnerships, national expansion, and an unwavering mission, Blue Door\u2019s Construct program continues to build what it always promised \u2014 not just careers, but futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To learn more about Construct, visit constructgta.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Posted On: October 22, 2025, Posted By: Yoyo Yan, NewmarketToday.ca, Original Article. Her language may be raw, but her experience was real. For Erin Panasenko, a graduate of the first Construct women\u2019s cohort, the Blue Door program didn\u2019t just train her for a job. It gave her a sense of belonging. \u201cWhen you can be yourself, when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10399,"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":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media"],"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