Community Builders expand in northern Ontario

A non-profit construction training program is expanding in the north. Community Builders aims to help fill the shortage of skilled workers in construction.

Community Builders is a non-profit social enterprise construction training program that is expanding in northern Ontario.

It provides training for people facing employment barriers with the goal of helping to fill the shortage of skilled workers in the construction industry.

In Sudbury, 12 trainees just started a 12-week program learning construction skills. In a session Thursday afternoon, they were doing demolition and will rebuild the structure.

It’s a paid training program providing hands-on experience and learning.

“Community Builders looks to solve two of Canada’s largest issues. The housing shortage that we are experiencing and the labour deficit in the trades,” said Karly Gasparini, executive director of Community Builders.

“The truth is if we don’t have the people to build the houses, we won’t be able to build them and so we want to connect people with that work. People who are looking for work and need those skills.”

The program offers training for people facing employment barriers.

Some are facing barriers

“It might be someone who has had experience in the corrections system and has served their time and is looking to rebuild their life,” Gasparini said.

“It might be a mom who is looking to get back in the workforce and was never encouraged to get into the trades (even though) that’s truly where their interests lie. It might be a new immigrant coming to our community who has skills from their own country but no Canadian experience.”

Jose Santos emigrated from El Salvador with skills in architecture three years ago.

Santos took the Community Builders training program two years ago and is now a training facilitator.

“I believe 100 per cent in this program,” he said.

“I have seen … miracles happening. Every three months we have new cohorts. Every three months we have 12 new individuals (who) come into this room. Some of them with very rough backgrounds in their life, very difficult backgrounds, trying to find employment.”

Community Builders recently opened training centres in Sault Ste. Marie and Bracebridge.

Officials said they are expanding because of success in Sudbury and Barrie with more than 80 per cent of graduates now gainfully employed.