Build a Dream launches national effort to connect tradespeople with employers

Key Takeaways:

• Build a Dream has launched the You’re Hired! Trade Skills Series, a national initiative connecting job seekers, apprentices, and skilled trades professionals with employers, unions, colleges, and community organizations.
• Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the program delivers hands-on skills training, certifications, and direct industry connections to strengthen Canada’s skilled trades pipeline.
• The free-to-participate series offers opportunities for employers to deliver certifications, lead workshops, and showcase career pathways, all while building a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.

The Whole Story:

Build a Dream has launched a national initiative to connect job seekers, apprentices, and skilled trades professionals with employers, unions, colleges, and community organizations. TheYou’re Hired! Trade Skills Series aims to to close the skills gap while opening doors for underrepresented talent.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the program is designed as a national workforce development initiative that brings employers, unions, training institutions, and community organizations together with the next generation of skilled talent.

Build a Dream officials noted that Canada’s construction industry is on the brink of a major opportunity. According to BuildForce Canada, the sector will need more than 85,000 new workers by 2033, just as the country pushes to build 5.8 million homes by 2030 to make housing more affordable.  Meeting this demand will take more than labour; it will take fresh ideas, new skills, and a workforce that reflects Canada’s diversity.

The series is hosted in communities across Canada including:

• Windsor – Oct. 7
• Mississauga – Oct. 14
• Vancouver – Nov. 4
• Edmonton – Nov. 6
• London – Nov. 18

It offers participants:

• On-site certifications such as WHMIS, First Aid & CPR, Fall Protection, Working at Heights, Confined Space Entry, and Hoisting & Rigging (varying by region).
• Career Readiness Support including resume reviews, mock interviews, and employment clinic services.
• Hands-on workshops where attendees use real tools, equipment, or VR simulations to explore skilled trades careers.
• Career pathways exploration through apprenticeship program overviews, training pathway guidance, and networking with employers.

“Our mission is to not only bridge the labour gap, but to make sure the skilled trades are accessible and welcoming to everyone. This must include women, newcomers, and other underrepresented groups,” said Nour Hachem, President of Build a Dream, who was recently named one of Construction’s Most Influential People for 2025 by SiteNews. “The You’re Hired! Trade Skills Series is about giving participants the skills, certifications, and confidence to start their careers, while also giving employers direct access to motivated, job-ready candidates.”

Build a Dream officials added that over the next decade, hundreds of thousands of skilled trades roles will need to be filled across Canada. Meanwhile, sectors like construction, manufacturing, and advanced technology are rapidly evolving and creating even greater demand for specialized training. The You’re Hired! Trade Skills Series is just one of a suite of Build a Dream initiatives designed to meet this demand, alongside their nationwide Career Discovery Expos, the Dream & Build Conference for Tradeswomen (next stop Vancouver 2026), the Workforce Skills Development Program that offers tailored soft skills training and career support, a VR Trailer bringing career exploration on the road, and an Industry Scan & Research Study that uncovers workplace gaps and produces a Workplace Best Practices Document.

Participation in the You’re Hired! Trade Skills Series is free for both attendees and exhibitors. Employers can:

• Deliver certifications
• Host career readiness clinics
• Lead hands-on workshops
• Showcase apprenticeship programs and job opportunities
• Network with motivated talent and industry peers

“The skilled trades are more than jobs, they are careers that build communities,” said Hachem. “This series is about connecting passion with opportunity, and ensuring that the workforce of tomorrow is stronger, more inclusive, and ready for the challenges ahead.”

For more information or to get involved, visit www.trade-skills.ca