Bruce County is set to launch a new millwright training program aimed at strengthening its workforce and promoting diversity within the skilled trades.
The “Introduction to Millwrighting” (ITM) program, a joint effort by the Millwright Regional Council, Bruce Power, and Build a Dream, will begin on November 11, 2024 with an event at the Nuclear Innovation Institute Advance Technology Campus on Farrell Drive in Tiverton.
The ITM program is tailored to bridge workforce gaps in Bruce County by equipping participants with skills in millwrighting, a trade crucial to maintaining industrial machinery and critical infrastructure. With Canada facing a projected shortage of skilled trades workers, this initiative is expected to provide both local economic development and a pipeline of qualified talent to Midwestern Ontario.
A distinctive feature of the program is its focus on inclusivity and diversity. Half of this first cohort consists of women, along with representation from Indigenous, racialized groups, and people with disabilities. By prioritizing these groups, ITM aims to create equitable opportunities in a field historically underrepresented by such communities.