Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto-based Building Opportunities for Life Today (BOLT), a construction-training organization for youth, has received $350,000 from the provincial government’s Skills Development Fund. Cash will be used to expand the job shadowing program that encourages young people to learn more about construction careers.
Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton made the announcement at an Options for Homes residential construction site in Toronto.
“BOLT’s Job Shadowing program is eye-opening for youth participants as they get to discover the many different careers available in the construction industry, some they may not have known existed,” said Raly Chakarova, BOLT Foundation executive director. “Much of hiring in the skilled trades is still informal so a big benefit of the program is connecting job-ready youth directly to employers, most of which are facing growing labour shortages.
“That helps to reduce employer’s administrative burden and time spent on recruitment, while diversifying their labour force and promoting inclusive hiring.”
BOLT was created as a registered charity in 2013 to help under-resourced youth in low-income communities in the GTA access education, training and employment opportunities in the construction industry. The job shadowing program allows participants to learn on the job in 10 different skilled trades and managers.
The program is open to youth 17 to 29 years old in the GTA who are facing barriers. Barriers receive industry-required safety training, PPE, a stipend, travel subsidy and financial support for any follow-up employability training.