The Greater Essex County District School Board is expanding its partnership with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to offer more students hands-on electrical training.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is now a partner in the school board's enhanced construction program.
Since the program's introduction in the 2020-2021 school year, 148 students have enrolled, and 53 received offers of employment with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
Those students are working through the Apprenticeship Pathway, and one graduate recently completed their Red Seal in General Carpentry.
"The enhanced construction program is shaping the next generation of skilled trades workers by bridging the gap between education and industry," said UBCJA Area Training Manager Logan Kane. "Through hands-on training, mentorship, and early exposure to the job site, we're not only preparing students for successful careers, we're building the workforce our communities will rely on for years to come."
Hosted at the IBEW Local 773 Training Centre on North Service Road East, students are immersed in construction technology with a strong emphasis on electrical. In addition to technical training, the program also offers academic instruction. It will run from September to February 2026 before students transition to a four-credit cooperative education placement in the second semester of the program.