TORONTO — Humber Polytechnic celebrated the opening of its newly expanded Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology.

The $9.5 million project added 16,000 square feet to the facility dedicated to providing students with hands-on training experiences in a variety of skilled trades. The expansion also includes flexible lab spaces that can adapt to new industry technologies. 

Additionally, a 10,000-square-foot woodworking lab, converted from a former furniture manufacturing plant, will train students in trades such as carpentry and industrial woodworking.

According to Humber Polytechnic, the Centre for Skilled Trades will add 500 new skilled trades training opportunities across apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship, and post-secondary levels. Humber contributed $2.16 million from its capital priorities fund, with additional funding of more than $1 million from Ontario’s Apprenticeship Capital Grant, bringing Ontario’s overall contribution through the Apprenticeship Capital Grant to almost $6 million.

“At Humber Polytechnic we’re committed to doing our part in addressing our country’s productivity crisis while helping students bridge their brilliant dreams with careers that are in high demand,” said Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber Polytechnic. “Our mission is to equip graduates with the right skills and experience to build lifelong employability in a workforce that’s constantly evolving. With the expansion of the Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology, we are preparing the next generation of skilled workers to drive Ontario’s economy forward. Skilled trades professionals are the backbone of our economy, and we’re proud to offer facilities to ensure they receive the highest level of training.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said, “The expansion of Humber Polytechnic’s skilled trades programs is a major step forward for students pursuing opportunities in the skilled trades. This expanded campus will help young people in Ontario find better jobs with bigger pay cheques and help our province develop the highly skilled workforce that will attract investments and build the roads, highways, schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure that are essential to our growing communities.”