Seventeen Indigenous youth from the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville region gathered at the St. Lawrence College campus in Brockville on March 31, 2026, to explore potential careers in the skilled trades. The two-day workshop series provided participants with hands-on experience in plumbing, masonry, and carpentry, while helping them connect with local career opportunities.
The event transformed the campus gymnasium into a temporary workshop space, where participants learned to read technical drawings, work with PVC piping, and level concrete blocks. As part of the program, the students worked in teams to measure, cut, and assemble materials, ultimately building three accessible picnic tables that were donated to the community. Each participant also created a custom clipboard to take home as a souvenir of the training.
This initiative was a partnership between St. Lawrence College, Skills Ontario, and Family and Children Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville. The workshop aligns with broader provincial efforts to address a significant labour shortage, as the government estimates that Ontario will require more than 400,000 new skilled tradespeople over the next decade to replace retiring workers. At the same time, the program aims to engage younger generations, following reports that youth unemployment reached 14.7% in September 2025.
Local employers, including 3M and Coreslab, attended the workshops to observe the training and speak with the participants. Lunch-and-learn sessions were also supported by 3M, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices, and Indigenous Recruitment Coordinator Roxanne Lockyer. These sessions provided students with insight into the professional world and highlighted the long-term career benefits of pursuing a path in the trades.
St. Lawrence College continues to support Indigenous students through the Waasaabiiidaasamose Indigenous Centre, which provides resources across the college’s campuses. In October 2024, the Brockville campus also unveiled a Legacy Space, created with the support of the Downie Wenjack Fund to serve as a place for education and reconciliation.
