Showcasing the potential and benefits of careers in construction is the goal of a CRC partnership program focused on high school students.
Spearheaded by UBC Local 494, the Enhanced Construction Program (ECP) is a forward-thinking initiative aimed at connecting students with hands-on skilled trades training. Through a partnership with the Greater Essex County District School Board, ECP offers high school students the opportunity to step out of their regular classrooms and spend a semester or full year at Local 494’s facility in Windsor, Ontario, earning construction credits while completing their regular math and English coursework.
For many students participating in the program, it represents their first look at what a career in construction entails.
“We’re always exploring ways we can collaborate with local school boards to help students better understand the range of opportunities available to them upon graduation,” explains CRC Director of Training Adam Bridgman. “Between coursework and a co-op placement with one of our union contractors, ECP participants get the hands-on training they need to succeed.”
ECP prioritizes practical, skills-based learning through real construction projects, equipping students with essential skills in carpentry, interior systems, and other areas. The program also includes up to seven health and safety certifications to ensure participants are prepared for jobsite standards.
Since ECP’s inception five years ago, every student that’s completed a work placement has continued with a career in the trades.
“Going through this program, I now have a better chance of becoming a Red Seal carpenter and that’s basically where I want to be,” says ECP student Massimo Rubino.
With BuildForce Canada estimating 350,000 construction workers will be required nationwide by 2033, Bridgman says the need for more innovative solutions like ECP is essential to help meet that demand.
“By building strong connections between education, industry, and our union, ECP serves as a model for workforce development and is crucial to the Ontario construction industry’s growth,” he says.
