Foundation announces pilot project at Loyalist College

Loyalist College, based in Belleville, Ont., and the W. Garfield Weston Foundation have announced a three-year pilot project that will provide financial support for students entering Skilled Trades programs.

Designed to attract students to Skilled Trades careers, the new W. Garfield Weston Fellowship Program will offer tuition and bursary incentives to help students train for and succeed in this growing labour market. A total of $240,000 will be available during the three-year program.

“We step into the future with Loyalist College to create a model program to address Canada’s great need for skilled workers,” wrote Eliza Mitchell, chair of the Education Committee with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. “The W. Garfield Weston Foundation’s commitment will enable Loyalist College over the next three years to shape a program that will help over 60 talented individuals to build lasting careers in the skilled trades. It will provide incentives for students to go beyond a one-year certificate to earn a diploma or complete apprenticeship training, enabling them to turn a job into a career.”

The pilot project will provide 30 post-secondary students and 30 apprentices with tuition credits from the College, and bursary funding from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation to complete their education at Loyalist over the next three years. The project will begin in the fall of 2013.

“We fully expect that at the end of the three years, the Loyalist program will be one that leads other Colleges forward in building a stronger workforce,” wrote Mitchell. “It is our pleasure to be working with Loyalist in shaping this innovative program. Our family Foundation has a long history of supporting students interested in pursuing a College education. In the 1990s, we established the W. Garfield Weston Scholars program, the first national scholarship program for College students. Each year we are delighted to hear about the 50 leading students who have been given the support they need to attend their College of choice thanks to that program.”

“We are very proud to partner with The W. Garfield Weston Foundation in this initiative,” said Loyalist president Maureen Piercy in a statement.

“Support like this is so important to bring focus to Skilled Trades education and training. We applaud the directors for their vision and support in establishing The W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellowship Program. Loyalist is committed to enhancing opportunities for individuals interested in careers in Skilled Trades. We know that growing demands for training of a highly skilled workforce will be met by programs such as those taught in our Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre.”