Empowering the Next Generation: Preparing youth for careers in the trades

JA Canada is proud to celebrate the success of the 2023-2024 World of Choices Skilled Trades Summits, an innovative initiative aimed at inspiring youth to explore rewarding careers in skilled trades. As the need for trade professionals continues to grow across Canada, these summits provide students with the tools, knowledge, and hands-on experiences to navigate potential career paths in this vital sector. 

Read more about Mark Beckles’ insights here. 

We’re grateful to RBC Future Launch for their support in fueling skilled trades education, helping embed these programs in the fabric of JA’s career readiness offering. And we are immensely appreciative of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) for their invaluable contributions as Summit Hosts and resource contributors for the JA Career Exploration Centre.  

Skilled Trades Summits

The summits provided a space for students to get exposed to: 

• Industry panels led by electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and other skilled trades professionals, including women and BIPOC leaders, who shared their career journeys and offered advice from a range of personal perspectives. 

• Interactive transferrable skills workshops helping students identify and build essential career skills: communication, problem solving, adaptability, creativity & innovation, collaboration, among others. 

• Live demonstrations and hands-on sessions where students could explore the tools, technologies, and techniques used in various trades, igniting curiosity and sparking new interests. 

• Networking opportunities where students connected directly with industry experts, learning about apprenticeship programs, certifications, academic pathways, and employment opportunities. 

Impact on Students and Communities in 2023-2024 

Supporting Canada’s Workforce of the Future 

The World of Choices Skilled Trades Summits directly align with Canada’s growing demand for skilled trade professionals. By providing young people with the guidance and resources to explore these paths, JA Canada is helping to ensure a strong, diverse, and skilled workforce for the future. 

As we look ahead, JA Canada is excited to expand the reach of these summits, with plans to bring the program to even more communities in the coming year, helping youth across the country unlock new career possibilities in skilled trades. 

And now, students can learn about skilled trades careers on their own or as a class through the JA virtual Career Exploration Center.  

JA Local Offices Shared Successes of the Trades Summits 

Contact your local JA office to learn about how you can participate in Skilled Trades Summits and World of Choices this year!