Magna supports Skills Ontario with $125K investment

May 2, 2018 – Skills Ontario will receive a $125,000 investment from Magna International in support of the 2018 Skills Ontario Competition, Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives, and Skills Ontario Summer Camps.

“We fully support skilled trades development because it is vital for high-tech, high-growth industries within Canada and around the world,” said Mike Sinnaeve, vice president of Operational Improvement and Quality for Magna International.

The new investment builds on the company’s investment of $100,000 in 2017 that supported experiential learning, skill development, and mentorship opportunities to more than 3,000 youth across Ontario annually through Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives and Summer Camps. Another 2,300 competitors and 30,000 visitors were impacted through Magna’s investment in the 2017 Skills Ontario Competition.

At the 2018 Skills Ontario Competition, the company will host an interactive exhibit for the other 30,000 expected attendees and offer jobs to medalists in the Automation and Control, Industrial Millwright Mechanic, and Mechatronics contests.

Two past mechatronics competitors, who went on to compete at WorldSkills 2017 and won bronze, currently work for Magna in the Exteriors groups, having received job offers as part of their medal-placing finish at past Skills Ontario Competitions.

“Our goal is to deliver a skills solution that benefits our youth, our businesses, our economy, and the quality of life that we enjoy here in Ontario,” said Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “Magna International is a true partner in helping us deliver skill development solutions to youth in Ontario and we are thrilled to be building on the momentum that their continued investment provides.”

The 2018 Skills Ontario Competition takes place May 7-9 at the Toronto Congress Centre.