Plans for a new skilled trades training centre in Walkerton are progressing with the announcement or $6.3 million from the Ontario government.
It will be a LiUNA 1059 training centre which is the local branch (Four County) of the Labour International Union of North America. LiUNA is putting up the other half of the estimated $12.5 million project.
London based LiUNA 1059 Training Director Mike Ropp tells Bayshore Broadcasting News, “Currently we have a 90,00 square foot training centre in London and the proposed Walkerton facility is about 23,00 square feet.” He says it will be a smaller model of the London training centre.
Ropp explains, “We’re teaching trade school training for apprentices in the construction craftworker trade.”
He says, “If you think of LiUNA you should be thinking of infrastructure. Whether it’s above ground or underground, like pipe laying in the sewer- watermain sector or roads and bridges or directional drilling for fibre optics or bell or cable or gas lines. Things that we use every day.”
He says they aim to train young people into future skilled craftworkers for LiUNA.
Ropp says Walkerton is one of the union’s areas explaining, “It has basically historically been under served for our members up there and we’re growing in that region. In addition to the members that we have working at Bruce Power, which is one of the largest employers in the area, we have a lot of contractors that have come on board with LiUNA that do the infrastructure outside of Bruce Power.” He lists companies like Harold Sutherland Construction, Pickard Construction and Weber Contracting.
“We need apprentices to take the spot of people who are planning to leave the industry in the coming years,” says Ropp.
Ropp says they do outreach and community work through school boards for safety certification for high school students, explaining, “Whenever possible, we like to have the safety training done for high school students at our facility so they can kind of see what trade school is like. We want the skilled trades to be considered as the the third pillar of college, university or you can get a skilled trade and do very well at that too if you’re cut out for that type of work.”
Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce, says in a statement, “This investment will empower local residents and workers across the region to access hands-on training, opening doors to rewarding careers while strengthening our economy. Together, we are building a brighter future for Huron-Bruce and beyond.”
Bruce County Warden Luke Charbonneau says in a statement, “I am excited for the province’s investment in Bruce County,” adding, “LiUNA Local 1059’s new Training Centre in Walkerton is essential in meeting our infrastructure goals. It will provide opportunities for Bruce County residents, while addressing our skilled labour needs.”
Brockton Mayor Chris Peabody says, “This anchor facility will create invaluable opportunities for local youth while fostering growth within our business community and strengthening our workforce. I would like to extend my gratitude to Lisa Thompson, our MPP, and the Provincial Government for this transformative investment in Brockton.”
Brockton Deputy Mayor Kym Hutcheon says she’s a proud grandparent of a LiUNA apprentice, noting, “I know firsthand the doors that skilled trades can open.” She adds, ‘This new training facility will offer countless residents and neighboring communities the chance to pursue valued careers in trades for years to come. We can’t wait to see the first shovel hit the ground.”