Ontario Construction News staff writer
Helmets to Hardhats referred a record number of veterans into the unionized construction industry in 2022, including registering the first cadets and Afghan interpreters and provided free safety training to Veterans in Ontario.
Also, outreach efforts were expanded into marginalized veteran communities to promote the skilled trades as a rewarding second career,
In 2023, executive director Joe Maloney highlights a few priorities for H2H:
- Continued outreach into marginalized Veteran populations, includingIndigenous Veterans
- Additional partnerships with likeminded groups serving the CanadianVeteran population
- A continual effort on promoting the capabilities of Veterans onRemembrance Day and beyond
- Sustaining a high volume of referrals of Veterans into the unionizedconstruction industry
โAs you start the new year, we encourage you to think about how you can continue to support Canadian Veterans,โ he said. โPlease think of Veterans when recruiting for your companies and completing intakes for your apprenticeship systems.
โTogether, we can provide meaningful careers to the brave women and men who have served us.โ
In November a new joint initiative โ a partnership with Helmets to Hardhats, the Millwright Regional Council of Ontario and the Association of Millwrighting Contractors of Ontario โ was launched, offering the โMillwright Scholarship: Investing in our Futureโ to provide Veterans opportunities to return to school to earn a certificate from a recognized Millwright program.
Successful Veterans will gain knowledge and experience to enter the workforce and offer employers sustainable and hardworking employees.
โWith more than 8,000 Veterans and Reservists transitioning out of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) every year at the average age of 32, these individuals have long working careers ahead of them. Joining the unionized construction industry is an appealing option for many Veterans because of the competitive wages, benefits pension plans and training,โ Maloney said.
โTogether, H2H, MRCO and AMCO are making it more accessible, efficient and streamlined for Veterans to learn the trade and fill Millwright opportunities across Ontario.โ
The millwright scholarship will:
- support at least five Helmets to Hardhats clients who will select a one-year program from an Ontario College
- be offered on a first come, first served basis
- reimburse the successful recipients for the semesterโs tuition and program fees
- allow employers to hire and support Veterans to keep up with the growing demand for millwrights across Ontario
โWeโre pleased to partner and strengthen our relationship with H2H and AMCO with our new collaborative millwright scholarship program that provides opportunities for military veterans throughout Ontario wanting to embark on a new career as a UBC millwright,โ said Mark Beardsworth, executive secretary-treasurer, Millwright Regional Council of Ontario. โWeโre delighted with the opportunity to work with our industry partners and lead the way in recruiting the next generation of millwright professionalsโ.
The partnership emphasizes the importance of employing Veterans with meaningful second careers in the unionized construction industry.
โAs a partnership, we strongly believe that it is now our responsibility to provide second career opportunities to Veterans after the service they have given us,โ Maloney said.
Click the link to submit an application to the Millwright Scholarship: Investing in our Future scholarship program: https://www.jotform.com/223074864190053