Ontario funds $1.4M for training in steel and aluminum production

May 21, 2019 – The Ontario government has allocated more than $1.4 million to help create a career exploration tool for jobs in the steel and aluminum manufacturing industries.

The Brockville-based Employment and Education Centre will lead a project to develop virtual reality (VR) software and work with regional employers to create 10 virtual career exploration modules related to the steel and aluminum sector. Through these modules, job seekers will be able to learn about career options in a dynamic and interactive digital environment. The VR modules can later be used by employment service providers all over the province.

Ontario is supporting the CareerLabsVR project with $1,424,031 over one year.

“The CareerLabsVR project will give Ontario businesses a unique new way of attracting talent – workers and jobseekers will have an exciting and compelling way to learn about careers in the steel and aluminum industries,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, in a release.

“Career exploration and counselling are vital to making sure job seekers find good jobs, and employers find the skilled workers they need,” says Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, minister of training, colleges and universities. “The CareerLabsVR project takes things to a whole new level by adding this new technology that will allow employment counsellors to turn any information session into an exciting and engaging experience.”