RONA Inc. is renewing its partnership with Skilled Trades College of Canada for a second year, investing $40,000 in bursaries while launching a new initiative aimed at connecting graduates with contractors seeking qualified workers.
The home improvement retailer said Wednesday the RONA Future Trades Bursary program is intended to help reduce financial barriers to specialized training. The new workforce initiative will extend the partnership beyond financial assistance by creating connections between graduates and contractors looking to hire.
RONA said the program is intended to help students move from training into employment while addressing labour needs in the construction and skilled trades sectors.
“At RONA, we believe that supporting the next generation goes beyond simply funding training. Indeed, we must also create opportunities for emerging talent to put their skills into practice and build their professional future. By investing in access to training and connecting graduates with contractors, we are helping to build a stronger ecosystem for the skilled trades industry as a whole,” said Jamal Hamad, senior vice-president, professional services at RONA Inc.
Mike Di Donato, chief operating officer at Skilled Trades College, said the partnership is designed to support students through both training and their transition into the workforce.
“According to the government of Ontario’s projections, by the year 2034, one in six job openings in the province will be in skilled trades. For young people thinking about their future, this is a field full of opportunities. By providing financial assistance and connecting students to professionals, our partnership with RONA supports the entire journey from training to employment,” added Di Donato.
The bursaries are being awarded to 11 students across six Skilled Trades College campuses in Ontario.
Recipients at the Vaughan campus are Robert Walilko and Matthew Rodrigues, while Michael Stephenson and Noel O’Sullivan are recipients at the Cambridge campus.
The Ajax campus recipients are Evan Tibbles and Andreas Evans-Adamecz, while Samantha Beamish received a bursary at the Oakville campus.
Franklyn Browne is the recipient at the Toronto East campus, while Leonardo Lima and Corie Gayle received bursaries at the Toronto West campus.
RONA Inc., headquartered in Boucherville, Que., operates and services more than 425 corporate and affiliated dealer stores under the RONA+ and RONA banners. The company says it employs 21,000 people and has supported home improvement and construction projects in Canada since 1939.
Skilled Trades College of Canada, founded in 2008, is a registered career college offering year-round, hands-on pre-apprenticeship programs in electrical, plumbing, home renovation and HVAC. Its training is offered across six campuses in the Greater Toronto Area, with expansion into the U.S. market underway.
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