Six hundred welders required to meet local demand – Six Nations Polytechnic responds

BRANTFORD – Six Nations Polytechnic (SNP) has been approved for funding up to a maximum of $307,295 over two years to deliver the We Are Welders Program to low-income women under the Women’s Economic Security Program. Since opening its Brantford Campus in 2016, SNP staff have been working hard to identify and fulfil local needs in Brantford, Brant County, and Six Nations for trades workers.

The objective of this tuition-free program is to provide the soft skills, practical skills, safety training, technical skills and personal supports necessary for program participants to gain local employment as a welder. The project will provide a combination of theory, hands-on and virtual training at the Brantford campus of Six Nations Polytechnic.

“With three cohorts over two fiscal years, this project aims to respond, quickly, to an increased demand for welders by training and employing thirty new qualified welders in the City of Brantford and Brant county region,” said Rebecca Jamieson, President and CEO of SNP. “We know there is a gap in skilled trades workers locally and this program helps to fill part of that gap.”

“Together, with community, industry and academic partners, this project will offer workshops and a speaker series to help women begin a career as a welder,” said Linda Parker, Acting Director of Operations and Advancement at SNP’s Brantford campus. “It will also provide opportunities and resources for women to overcome or avoid undesirable situations of abuse, harassment or violence.”

The 28-week course is comprised of six modules that include career awareness, team building, soft and life skills, welding, employment readiness and empowerment and a paid work placement.  The curriculum content plus workshops and resources aim to remove barriers, build confidence, acquire skills and prepare participants for a career as a welder.

This program is offered tuition-free and the first cohort is set to start in June of this year. Interested applicants will soon be able to apply through Six Nations Polytechnic and community agencies.

Fast Facts:

  • The We Are Welders program will increase opportunities for local trades training, skill development and post-secondary education in the City of Brantford. Upon completion of this program, participants will have the education, skill sets and attitude to enter and remain in the labour market.
  • This program fills an identified, local skills gap for welders
  • Six Nations Polytechnic will deliver the Level 1 Common Core Apprenticeship In-school curriculum for Welder (456A) and Metal Fabricator (437A) in partnership with Canadore College
  • This program is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of the Status of Women
  • Supports may be available for child-care and transportation
  • SNP also offers a Welder Fitter program for those who may not fall under the criteria for this program

Sic Nations Polytechnic acknowedgesand thanks the Province of Ontario for its support of this initiative. The views expressed within are the views of Six Nations Polytechnic staff and do not neccessarily reflect those of the Province. 

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