Lambton College receives funding for instrumentation and control, welding apprenticeships

Lambton College in Sarnia, Ontario will receive funding from the Ontario government for six in-class training programs to prepare students for careers in manufacturing and the skilled trades.

The $926,416 investment, part of Ontario’s $20.8 million investment in pre-apprenticeship training, was announced today in the heart of Southern Ontario’s petrochemical and nuclear sector.

The funding will support more than 380 students to enrol in the following apprenticeship training programs:

• Instrumentation and Control Technician (37 apprentices)
• Welder (17 apprentices)
• Steamfitter (102 apprentices)
• General Carpenter (112 apprentices)
• Construction Maintenance Electrician (94 apprentices)
• Construction Boilermaker (24 apprentices)

“Ontario is facing a looming problem,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, training and skills development upon the announcement.

“Our skilled tradespeople are retiring faster than we can replace them. The funding for this new program will help alleviate the strain our trades sector is experiencing.”

The announcement comes amid a government marketing campaign highlighting the skilled trades as a viable career path. The ads, which use the slogan ‘Find a Career You Wouldn’t Trade,’ are currently running online, in movie theatres and on Tim Hortons TV.

The province also recently started an online trades hub at ontario.ca/trades.