Belleville, Ontario, July 21, 2021 – Loyalist College and the Quinte Home Builders’ Association (QHBA) have received $93,000 from the Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER), with generous support from the Government of Canada, to launch a work-integrated learning (WIL) Skilled Trades Discovery project.
“Through this innovative and community-centric project with the Quinte Home Builders’ Association, partners will have the opportunity to build a platform and a pathway to facilitate meaningful work-integrated learning opportunities for 30 Loyalist College students,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Loyalist College President and CEO. “It is through the Skilled Trades Discovery project, generously supported by BHER, that we can collectively narrow the skilled trades labour gap in our region, directly connect students with local employers and facilitate technology transfer between Loyalist College and community partners.”
The Skilled Trades Discovery project is one of 13 initiatives funded by BHER and is the result of a collaboration between BHER and Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada. BHER and CEWIL Canada share the goal of improving access to quality WIL opportunities for students across the country. This grant initiative will create more than 1,000 quality WIL opportunities in six provinces, with a focus on underrepresented students. The 13 projects represent more than 28 community-based, non-profit, industry, and postsecondary partners.
“The Quinte Home Builders’ Association has a robust entrepreneurial network, more than 140 members strong, that can create a permanent strategic relationship with Loyalist College to enhance invaluable student work-integrated learning experiences,” said Ruth Estwick, Quinte Home Builders’ Association’s Chief Executive Officer. “Through this project we can support the next generation of skilled trades professionals, the very workforce which develops our communities and enables future growth in the Bay of Quinte region.”
About Loyalist College
Ranked one of Canada’s top 50 research colleges and #1 in the country for industry research income as a percentage of total research income, Loyalist College empowers students, faculty, staff, and partners through experiential, industry cluster-based education, training and applied research programs. As Ontario’s Destination College, the College provides job-ready graduates for, and knowledge transfer to, industry and the community. Of 2018-19 graduates, 88.8 percent were employed within six months after graduation. Located on more than 200 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, the College is perfectly positioned between Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. Loyalist College offers more than 70 full-time diploma, certificate and apprenticeship programs in biosciences, building sciences, business, community service, health and wellness, media studies, public safety, and skilled trades. Continuing education options are available through LoyalistFocus.com, including hundreds of online, distance and in-class courses, and through the College’s 100+ university transfer agreements. Loyalist College is a key driver of social and economic health in eastern Ontario. It contributes 3.7 percent of the Gross Regional Product, representing $382 million annually to the regional economy – based on a March 2020 report by Emsi. For more information on Loyalist College’s Belleville, Bancroft and Toronto campuses and Port Hope satellite location, visit YoureGoingPlaces.com.
About QHBA
The QHBA is the voice of the residential construction industry in the Bay of Quinte region. We are a network of more than 140 member builders, developers, engineers, suppliers, trade contractors, financial and industry related service professionals in the region. QHBA members have been developing, building and transforming communities throughout the Quinte Region for more than 60 years. Learn more at quintehomebuilders.com.
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Contact: Ashliegh Gehl, Coordinator, Marketing, Communications
Loyalist College, agehl@loyalistcollege.com, 613-969-1913, ext. 2826