BOLT fulfills career dream for young carpenter

Ontario Construction News staff writer

Matthew Edwards is a BOLT Skilled Training graduate via the Hammer Heads Program and a shining star of the new #BuildingIndustryTalent feature. Matthew is now a journeyperson and has worked as a carpenter for the past seven years with LIUNA Local 183.

“Before BOLT, I was deciding what I wanted to do with my life heading towards the trade sector,” Matthew says.

“I had always wanted to be a tradesman, and when I heard there was an organization offering minority youth like myself the opportunity to be trained correctly and safely, I jumped on it.”

Before BOLT, Matthew says he would walk on to construction sites, introduce himself and occasionally offer a free day’s work “just to show I was worth the time”, but that wasn’t leading him to a permanent position.

“Thanks to BOLT, I was able to make contacts that were vital steppingstones to my career in carpentry.”

BOLT Charitable Foundation was launched by Tridel in 2009 and was established as a charitable foundation on January 1st, 2013. BOLT works to create awareness about the diverse and numerous career opportunities in the construction industry by hosting Speak Outs, Days of Discovery, and by offering Job Shadowing experiences.

With Tridel’s support and through trade and industry partnerships, BOLT also raises funds to support scholarship and training opportunities for under-resourced youth wishing to pursue a career in construction.

“We are so excited to have been able to support Matthew, together with our partners at Hammer Heads and LiUNA183, as he found a meaningful and rewarding career in the skilled trades. Matthew, your passion and perseverance is an inspiration to us all,” said Raly Chakarova, executive directo, BOLT Charitable Foundation.

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