Wednesday, August 12, 2026

CLAC and Mohawk College Partner to Expand and Accelerate Skilled Trades Training in Ontario

GRIMSBY, ON—CLAC and Mohawk College have signed a memorandum of understanding to help address Ontario's urgent skilled labour needs through expanded training capacity and accelerated apprenticeship pathways.

As part of the agreement, CLAC and Mohawk College will collaborate on the development of new classroom and lab space at CLAC’s Grimsby facility. Located just minutes from Mohawk College’s skilled trades campus in Stoney Creek, the new training space will help reduce the backlog of apprentices waiting for in-class instruction in high-demand Red Seal trades, including electrical, plumbing, welding, and carpentry.

The partnership supports the Government of Canada's Team Canada Strong initiative, which aims to recruit, train, and hire between 80,000 and 100,000 new Red Seal skilled trades workers by 2030-31. It also aligns with Ontario’s ongoing efforts to increase participation in the skilled trades.

“Ontarians need the breadth, depth, and expertise of our community colleges to serve the growing number of prospective tradespeople entering the workforce from every corner of the province,” said Ian DeWaard, CLAC Provincial Director. “By partnering with Mohawk College, we are helping create more accessible training opportunities and stronger pathways into rewarding, high-demand careers. Together, we can better support the next generation of skilled trades professionals while helping employers address workforce shortages.”

The new partnership reflects CLAC’s longstanding commitment to workforce development and skills training. By combining CLAC’s close connection to workers and industry needs with Mohawk College’s expertise in skilled trades education, the organizations will work together to identify emerging skills gaps and develop responsive, industry-informed training solutions.

In addition to expanding apprenticeship training capacity, CLAC and Mohawk College will explore opportunities to support accelerated learning pathways and incorporate emerging technologies into trades education, informed by real-world worker experience and industry insights.

“This partnership demonstrates how labour organizations and colleges can work together to solve urgent workforce challenges,” said Paul Armstrong, President of Mohawk College. “By expanding access to high-quality, hands-on apprenticeship training, we are helping more people pursue in-demand careers while strengthening the skilled talent pipeline Ontario employers need.”

The agreement also opens the door to future collaboration in applied research, workforce development initiatives, and emerging areas such as green construction, sustainable building practices, and next-generation skilled trades training.

The Grimsby facility is currently in the preliminary design stage, with plans to begin the approvals process later this year and break ground in early 2027.

CLAC and Mohawk College Partner to Expand and Accelerate Skilled Trades Training in Ontario

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