{"id":10400,"date":"2025-10-25T15:39:14","date_gmt":"2025-10-25T19:39:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/?p=10400"},"modified":"2025-10-28T15:42:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T19:42:12","slug":"more-than-a-training-program-blue-door-celebrates-5-year-anniversary-of-construct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluedoor.ca\/more-than-a-training-program-blue-door-celebrates-5-year-anniversary-of-construct\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018More than a training program\u2019: Blue Door celebrates 5 year anniversary of Construct"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Posted On: October 25, 2025, Posted By: Simon Martin, YorkRegion.com, Original Article. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Door celebrated the five-year anniversary of Construct on October 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The supportive skilled trades training program is designed to remove barriers to employment for vulnerable individuals. It includes hands-on training, wraparound supports, and on-the-job experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since launching in 2020, Construct has seen more than 750 participants complete the program, with a 90 per cent completion rate. Eighty per cent of graduates have secured employment, and 75 per cent have found work in the trades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cConstruct is more than a training program. It\u2019s a proven, cost-effective solution to three of Canada\u2019s most urgent challenges: the housing crisis, skilled labour shortage, and homelessness,\u201d Interim Blue Door CEO Emmy Kelly said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Originally starting in York Region, Construct now recruits participants from across York, Durham, and Peel Regions. Over just five years, Construct has grown from running two cohorts in its first year to twenty-five cohorts in year five, reflecting the program\u2019s expansion and impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construct is launching its first-ever women\u2019s cohort this year, furthering its commitment to equity and creating pathways for women to thrive in the skilled trades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During training, participants gain practical experience in areas such as carpentry, drywall installation, painting, and more. The program also provides essential supports, including training wages, transportation, food assistance, child care services, and access to mental health resources. With the help of its training partners \u2014 Durham College, Humber Polytechnic, and LiUNA Local 506 Training Centre, Construct is able to deliver high-quality instruction that prepares participants for real-world success in the trades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program is only able to thrive with generous support from donors and community partners including the Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation, Women in the Skilled Trades (WIST), and the Future Skills Centre through the Government of Canada\u2019s Future Skills Program, The Home Depot Canada Foundation, the Peter Gilgan Foundation, the RBC Foundation, and the Regional Municipality of Durham, with additional support from the Regional Municipality of York and United Way of Greater Toronto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Door recently announced Construct Canada, marking the program\u2019s expansion nationwide. This next step will allow Construct to support even more individuals and communities across the country, empowering them to build stable, self-sufficient futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada\u2019s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy and the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Posted On: October 25, 2025, Posted By: Simon Martin, YorkRegion.com, Original Article. Blue Door celebrated the five-year anniversary of Construct on October 21. The supportive skilled trades training program is designed to remove barriers to employment for vulnerable individuals. It includes hands-on training, wraparound supports, and on-the-job experience. Since launching in 2020, Construct has seen […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":10401,"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-10400","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