Four Ontario employers have been honoured for their exceptional commitment to apprenticeship training.
 
The annual Minister's Apprenticeship Employer Recognition Awards celebrate employers that show leadership in training apprentices, support the apprenticeship training system, and promote careers in skilled trades. This year's winners are: Abbott Point of Care (Ottawa); All Canada Crane (Mississauga); Bruce Power (Tiverton); and Michael's Hair Design & Day Spa (Thunder Bay).
 
"These outstanding employers are dedicated to training apprentices and are making an important contribution to Ontario's economy, as well as their own businesses," said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "They are helping build the expert workforce we need to prosper."
 
Operating in Ottawa since 1995, Abbott Point of Care produces medical diagnostic instruments used all over the world. The company has 346 employees in microelectronics apprenticeship training. Next year, 240 of these employees will graduate with a Microelectronics Certificate from Algonquin College.

All Canada Crane rents cranes and has branches in Toronto, Brantford, Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. The company has trained apprentices since 1990, with 30 completions and 60 apprentices currently in the mobile crane apprenticeship program. All Canada Crane is active on committees and working groups in developing training standards and mentoring programs. It also conducts additional training courses to help apprentices remain employed.

Bruce Power is an electricity generator and nuclear plant. The company currently has 782 apprentices, with 398 apprenticeship completions since 2002 in various apprenticeships, including electrician. It offers workplace education to high school students and co-op education placements to adult students completing their high school diploma. Bruce Power has an in-house apprenticeship committee made up of management, union and government representatives.
 
Michael's Hair Design & Day Spa has trained more than 20 apprentices since 1983. The company currently has three apprentices and usually hires one or two apprentices each year. It partners with high schools on the co-op education program and works with local training partners. Michael's employs a unique pay-back program where it recruits high school students and offers to pay back their tuition/training costs over time as they continue with the company.

Since the awards began in 2002, more than 140 employers have been recognized for their commitment to training apprentices. Winners are selected by a panel of apprenticeship experts from a number of sectors, including labour organizations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Ontario colleges.