Candice White, CEO and Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario, addresses employers, industry stakeholders and apprentices at the Nourish Room of Loyalist College in Belleville. Photo by Lindsey Harren.
The CEO and Registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) stopped at Loyalist College in Belleville on Monday to talk with employers, industry partners, and young apprentices.
Candice White said that there was a lot of passion in the room. The STO on the Road initiative is aimed at connecting regional employers with regional STO staff. White, a Loyalist grad, started her tour across the province in Sudbury. Loyalist was the second stop before she heads to Arnprior.
The event at Loyalist had roughly 50 people and included Belleville Chamber of Commerce CEO Jill Raycroft, Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison, representatives from Hastings Prince Edward District School Board, Centre For Workforce Development, and a variety of employers, mostly in the electrical field.
White stressed that the Skilled Trades Ontario portal is a great resource for employers to use to keep up to date with the latest announcements and incentives to take on apprentices. She added that the money is there, but employers are not aware of it. White, who has been in the role since 2024, added that when she got to the role in the Crown agency, the foundation was there, but it was time to build on the momentum and make sure that industry knows that Skilled Trades Ontario is a partner.
White highlighted that funding is available for apprentices to help cover mileage, daycare expenses, and living expenses when they go to school. On the employer side, depending on certain avenues, up to $17,000 is available over the course of an apprenticeship for an apprentice.
An open question and answer session was held after the presentation. Some of the points raised by the audience included about how the trades are romanticized and young people often do not realize the work demand, and are not committed. Other items included concerns over math skills and helping bridge barriers to assist apprentices who are great on the job, but struggle to pass their mandatory exams.
One of the new items that White highlighted was that Skilled Trades Ontario and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have come together for a partnership. The aim is to assist industry with offering health and safety programs for young workers. The training is aimed at the non-electrical side of the skilled trades. White added that the move, in its infancy, is data driven, and has come about after hearing from parents, sponsors, and employers.
Another item highlighted is that there is a new approach to the Apprentice of the Year award, that is handed out at the Ontario Apprenticeship Summit. The event hosted by STO on November 4th in Toronto will crown four regional winners instead. The winners will be announced at the summit and receive a trophy and cash prize.
White said that when it comes to promoting the skilled trades with a shortage of workers, the team is focused on promoting the skilled trades for everyone. She emphasized that they are looking at expanding the number of pathways for folks who have worked in the Department of National Defence, to move into the skilled trades in the private sector.
“My advice to young people is you don’t have to be certain, but you need to be curious. You need to explore the opportunities that are available to you. Be tenacious, pound the pavement, and ensure you are connecting and communicating with folks. Go to the Level Up! Career Fairs, ensure you are connecting with your guidance counsellors. There are resources. Ensure you take the time and research. My message to employers is that…see the value in the apprenticeship system, we hear you, and hopefully I’ll be back soon with big solutions,” said White, in an interview after the meeting.
