Upgraded LiUNA facility expected to train 5,000 additional construction workers over five years
The Ontario government has announced the completion of a major expansion of LiUNA Local 837’s training centre in Cambridge, saying the upgraded facility will help train up to 5,000 additional apprentices and construction workers over the next five years as the province works to address mounting labour shortages in the skilled trades.
The project was supported by more than $8.8 million in provincial funding through Ontario’s Skills Development Fund Capital Stream and is part of the government’s broader strategy to expand skilled trades training capacity amid rising infrastructure and housing demands.
Provincial officials say the investment will help Ontario prepare for an estimated need of 400,000 additional skilled trades workers over the next decade as retirements and job growth increase pressure on the labour market.
Province links expansion to long-term infrastructure agenda
Premier Doug Ford said the expanded training centre will support Ontario’s long-term infrastructure and housing objectives.
Premier cites labour demand tied to infrastructure spending
“To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion plan to build, Ontario will need 400,000 more skilled trade workers over the next decade,” said Premier Ford. “This state-of-the-art training centre will connect young people and job seekers in Cambridge and Waterloo Region with the in-demand skills they need to land good-paying careers in construction and build a stronger Ontario for all of us.”
Ontario has framed skilled trades development as a cornerstone of its economic and infrastructure agenda, with billions committed to transit, healthcare, housing and transportation projects across the province.
Labour Minister David Piccini said investments in modern training facilities are critical to meeting workforce needs tied to those projects.
“Canada has hospitals to build, highways to expand and homes that families desperately need, and none of it happens without our skilled tradespeople,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By investing in modern, world-class training facilities like this, we are helping workers build rewarding careers in the skilled trades while ensuring Ontario has the workforce it needs to build, grow and deliver critical nation-building projects.”
Facility expansion adds simulator space and virtual reality training
The expansion includes renovations to existing classroom space at LiUNA Local 837’s training facility at 330 Industrial Road, along with the construction of a new 23,791-square-foot addition.
New technology designed to replicate job site conditions
The upgraded campus now includes an equipment lab, simulator space and virtual reality training technology intended to allow apprentices to practise in realistic job site scenarios before entering the field.
LiUNA Local 837 Training Director Nick Ciccone said the expanded campus strengthens the union’s ability to prepare workers for the demands of the construction industry.
“Training is the foundation of everything we build, and today, that foundation gets even stronger. With support from the Ontario government and the leadership of Labour Minister David Piccini, we mark the official expansion of a state-of-the-art Training and Education Campus in Cambridge, advancing LiUNA’s leadership in training and up-skilling the workforce that builds this province,” said Nick Ciccone, Training Director, LiUNA Local 837. “This is a direct investment in workers, in safety and in the future of our industry, delivering modern training, real opportunity and a local workforce ready to get shovels in the ground and projects moving across the region.”
Local MPPs say centre will support regional economic growth
Regional lawmakers said the expanded centre will help strengthen Cambridge and the broader Waterloo Region labour market by creating more local pathways into skilled trades careers.
“Today’s opening of the LiUNA Local 837 Cambridge Training Centre is a major investment in the people and future of Cambridge, strengthening a community where the skilled trades have always played a vital role. By expanding local training opportunities and preparing the next generation of workers, this centre will help drive growth, build careers and keep Cambridge strong for years to come,” said Brian Riddell, Member of Provincial Parliament for Cambridge.
Jess Dixon, MPP for Kitchener South—Hespeler, said the project will improve access to trades training for residents seeking stable employment.
“A lot of people in this community are looking for a path into the trades, not just a job but something stable and meaningful that they can build a life around. Expanding this training centre means more people can get that start close to home and it opens the door for thousands of workers to get trained and build the projects of our future,” Dixon said.
Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener—Conestoga, said the province’s infrastructure ambitions will require a significant expansion of the skilled workforce.
“Ontario will need a historic number of skilled trade workers to deliver the largest capital plan in Canadian history. By expanding access to skilled trades training in Cambridge, our government is helping local workers get the skills needed to build transit, homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure,” Harris said.
Ontario expands training investments provincewide
The Cambridge expansion is part of a broader provincial push to modernize skilled trades training infrastructure.
Ontario said it has invested $128.7 million through the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream to date to support training centre upgrades and expansions across the province.
The government said applications for the fund remain open on an ongoing basis.
According to provincial data, Ontario’s construction sector employed 577,500 workers in 2025, underscoring the scale of labour demand facing the industry as public and private sector construction activity accelerates.
The province has said expanding access to training and apprenticeship opportunities will remain central to its efforts to ensure employers can fill vacancies and deliver major projects on schedule.