KITCHENER, Ont. — The Ontario government is investing nearly $3.9 million in four workforce training projects aimed at helping more than 310 women enter, remain in and advance through the skilled trades, as the province seeks to expand its labour pool for construction and other high-demand industries.
Announced September 2 through the sixth round of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream, the funding will support women across the province, including survivors of gender-based violence and people facing barriers to employment.
The projects will provide skills training, mentorship, employment assistance, wraparound services and connections with employers. Participants will be prepared for careers ranging from carpentry and cabinetmaking to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), machinery mechanics, construction supervision and project management.
“As we build the homes, highways, hospitals and critical infrastructure Ontario needs, women have an important role to play in meeting that demand,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government is breaking down barriers so more women, including survivors of gender-based violence, can build the skills, experience and confidence to succeed in the skilled trades. This is about opening doors to rewarding careers, greater financial independence and a stronger future for workers, families and employers across Ontario.”
Four Ontario Organizations Receive Skilled Trades Training Funding
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region will receive $2,000,048 to support 42 women who are survivors of gender-based violence. Participants will receive training and employment services designed to help them pursue careers in carpentry, cabinetmaking, machinery mechanics and transportation equipment mechanics.
The Redwood for Women and Children Fleeing Abuse will receive $914,110 to assist 100 survivors through training, mentorship, financial assistance and trauma-informed supports. The program will focus on pathways into HVAC, gas fitting, refrigeration mechanics and other construction-related trades.
The Canadian Association of Women in Construction will receive $459,675 to train 120 women for supervisory and project management positions, while the Metro Labour Education and Skills Training Centre will receive $496,153 to help 50 women remain employed and advance their careers.
“Our government is taking decisive action to build and protect Ontario’s highly skilled workforce amid global economic threats. Through this investment, we’re ensuring that hundreds of women across the province get the hands-on training they need to land in-demand, good-paying jobs in Ontario’s booming skilled trades sectors.”
- Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
Programs Target Financial Independence and Workforce Participation
The province said the investment is intended both to address skilled-labour requirements and to create greater economic independence for women who may face significant employment barriers.
“Every woman in Ontario deserves the opportunity to build a rewarding career that provides financial security, independence, and a strong future. By investing in training and removing barriers to employment, we are helping women access new opportunities in the skilled trades and build careers that can support themselves and their families. Through partnerships with colleges, employers and community organizations, our government is ensuring women have the skills, support, and opportunities they need to succeed and contribute to Ontario’s economy. Our government knows that when women succeed, Ontario succeeds.”
- Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social & Economic Opportunity
“In my years prosecuting intimate partner violence, a barrier I saw frequently was financial dependence. Women stay in abusive relationships because their income, their housing, and their ability to care for their children are tied to the person harming them. The SHE Builds program helps address that barrier by building on what our gender-based violence service providers already have, which is trusted relationships with the women in their communities. That means they can connect the women most affected by financial dependence with training that puts them on a path to a well-paying career in the trades.”
- Jess Dixon, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener South – Hespeler
Ontario Strengthens Oversight of Skills Development Fund
The Round 6 projects are being delivered under changes introduced following recommendations from the Auditor General’s 2025 program review.
Ontario said the revised program will track employment outcomes three, six and 12 months after training. Applicants must also disclose their use of registered lobbyists and consultants, while projects are subject to strengthened screening, risk assessment and evaluation procedures. The ministry has additionally introduced due-diligence measures examining individuals associated with funding applications.
The province said previous SDF rounds have produced significant employment and training outcomes. In Round 4, more than 14,000 participants secured employment and more than 67,000 upgraded their skills after completing training. Across Rounds 1 through 5, more than 120,000 participants found employment within 60 days of completing their programs.
Women Account for Growing Share of Ontario Skilled Trades Workforce
More than 385,000 women worked in skilled trades-related professions in Ontario in 2025, representing almost one-third of the province’s skilled trades workforce, according to the government. Women also account for 15 per cent of active apprentices.
“These investments will provide more than 310 women with access to training, mentorship, employment supports and meaningful pathways to rewarding careers in the skilled trades. By removing barriers and creating opportunities for women to build their skills and advance in the workforce, we are strengthening Ontario’s skilled trades sector. Women bring valuable talent, experience and leadership to the workforce, and their continued participation will be essential to meeting Ontario’s future skilled labour needs.”
- Candice White, CEO & Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario
Ontario is also seeking to increase women’s participation through its Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Skills Ontario initiatives and skilled trades career fairs.
The government said the latest investments form part of its broader strategy to develop the workforce required for housing, transportation, health-care facilities and other infrastructure while strengthening the province’s economic resilience.
The sixth round of the SDF Training Stream is funded exclusively by the Government of Ontario, with people interested in participating in the newly announced programs directed to contact the organizations delivering the projects.