The Thames Valley District School Board, in partnership with the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and Build a Dream, is hosting a free career event for students in St. Thomas and the surrounding region to help teenage girls explore high-demand careers in skilled trades and technology. The Career Discovery Expo will take place on April 8, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the J-AAR Expo Centre, located at 845 Florence Street in London.
The event is designed for female students in grades 7 through 12, along with their parents and caregivers. While the event is free to attend, families must complete an advanced registration online through Build a Dream.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with industry experts and members of the school board’s pathways team. These advisors will be available to answer questions and provide information about various career programs, including Specialist High Skills Majors, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, and cooperative education options.
This initiative comes as the province works to address a significant labour gap. Government projections indicate a need for over 400,000 new skilled tradespeople over the next decade as many current workers reach retirement age. Despite this high demand, women currently make up only about 5% of the skilled trades workforce in Canada. However, recent trends show growing interest, with Ontario recording over 4,100 new female apprenticeship registrations in the 2024-2025 period, an increase of more than 11 percent.
By providing a venue for students to learn about these pathways early, the school board hopes to better prepare youth for future workforce opportunities in construction, manufacturing, and technology.
