Kevin Flynn Announces New Funding for Skilled Trades at Sheridan

The Hon. Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour and MPP for Oakville, visited Sheridan’s Skilled Trades Centre today to announce $282,300 in new funding for Sheridan’s pre-apprenticeship training programs, including Industrial Mechanic Millwright, General Machinist and Tool and Die Maker.

“We’ve learned over the years that when we reach potential apprentices early and get them skills and experience through pre-apprenticeship programs, they stand a much higher chance of completing apprenticeship training and enjoying rewarding, well-paid careers in the trades,” said Flynn.

He noted that the number of apprenticeship registrations have more than doubled since 2003, from 17,000 to over 25,000, and that there are currently close to 75,000 apprentices actively working in the province.  “Almost one in five of the new jobs in this province over the next decade is expected to be in trades-related occupations,” Flynn added.  “We need to ensure that we have a highly skilled workforce ready to meet this demand in order to keep our province competitive.”

Dr. Mary Preece, Sheridan’s President and Vice Chancellor, noted that skilled trades have long been a mainstay of the college’s programming, with over 1,000 students enrolled in trades, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs on an annual basis.