More Workers for High-Demand Trades

Fanshawe College will be training more apprentices to meet local demand for workers in the London area.

Ontario is providing $800,000 over the next three years for Fanshawe College to train agricultural equipment technicians, truck and coach technicians, heavy duty equipment technicians, industrial mechanic millwrights, industrial electricians and construction and maintenance electricians.

Through the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund, the College will invest in simulation software and accompanying training stations to teach electrical, mechanical, pneumatic and hydraulic principles to various trades so that training will keep pace with technological changes. The fund will also help the College train more apprentices.

"Fanshawe College provides opportunities in fields where demand for workers is very high, especially in the skilled trades. We are a leader in apprenticeship training and continue to work with our governments, faculty and community partners to match the skills of our students to the needs of industry," said Rod Cameron, Dean, Faculty of Technology.

These upgrades are part of the $2-billion Skills to Jobs Action Plan, which gives Ontarians a competitive edge by preparing workers for a future, greener economy. "Expanding apprenticeships will help more people train for tomorrow's high-skilled jobs," said Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy.

Khalil Ramal, MPP for London-Fanshawe, announced the funding during a news conference at Fanshawe College on February 27, 2009, emphasizing that, "Skills training must stay current to build the skilled workforce we need to strengthen Ontario's economy."