Skills for Change offers three free pre-apprenticeship trades programs delivered in partnership with Ontario polytechnic colleges. All three combine hands-on technical training with workplace readiness support, certifications, and (where eligible) paid work placements. The programs aim to support individuals underrepresented in the skilled trades — including youth, women, newcomers, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, and people facing barriers to employment.
All three programs are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Road Ready: Diverse Mechanics for Change
Free pre-apprenticeship program preparing participants for careers in the automotive industry. Training is delivered at Mohawk College (135 Fennell Ave W, Hamilton, ON) in partnership with Skills for Change.
- Trades: Automotive Service Technician (primary), Auto Body and Collision Damage Repair (secondary)
- Schedule: June 22 to August 21, 2026 — in-person, five days a week
- Cost: Free
- Wraparound support: Employment readiness training (until March 2027), job placement assistance, site tours, job shadowing, and mentoring
WeldUp: New Heights in Welding Careers
Specialized program helping internationally trained welders upgrade their skills and gain Canadian certification — without repeating prior training — to access employment in Ontario's welding industry.
- Two pathways:
- 20-Hour Direct Certification — for experienced welders needing competency assessments and training to meet Canadian standards
- 60-Hour Skills Upgrading — for semi-experienced welders enhancing skills, knowledge, and confidence to align with Canadian industry practices
- Eligibility: Ontario residents, 18+, internationally trained welders with relevant education and work experience, Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 6 or higher. Open to permanent residents, naturalized Canadian citizens, provincial nominees (non-international student stream), refugee claimants with open work permits, and temporary workers with IRCC approval.
Trade Spark: Electrical Foundations
Free pre-apprenticeship training program in the electrical trades, delivered at Humber Polytechnic, Centre for Trades and Technology (110 Carrier Drive, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5R1).
- Trades: Electrician — Construction and Maintenance (primary), Industrial Mechanic Millwright (secondary)
- Schedule: May 18, 2026 to March 5, 2027 — full-time, in-person
- Components: Orientation and safety training, 12 weeks of electrician training, 1 week of millwright exposure, integrated academic support, mentoring, employment preparation, and an 8–12 week paid work placement (eligibility required, paid at least at minimum wage)
- Certifications: WHMIS, Emergency First Aid and CPR, Working at Heights, Level 1 in-class training
- Eligibility: 18+, Ontario resident, valid Social Insurance Number (SIN), legally entitled to work in Canada, interest in a career in the electrical or skilled trades, and able to commit to full-time in-person training
Resource
Skills for Change publishes a public guide, Pathways to the Skilled Trades: A Guide to Launching Your Career, available from the Trades Programs page.
