Skills Ontario Collabs with Sault College & Tenaris to host Recent Tools for Success Event for Indigenous Youth, Young Women

May 6, 2024

Sparking interest in a career as an electrician is the goal of a recent Tools for Success event organized by Skills Ontario with collaborating partners Sault College and Tenaris for Indigenous youth and young women.

On the morning of Thursday, April 25^th, Indigenous youth gathered at Tenaris to learn about the electrician trade by participating in a hands-on workshop led by Jon Pasiak, Coordinator of Electrical Programs at Sault College. After the session, participants took a tour of Tenaris and ended the day with a panel discussion. A second event for young women and those who identify as women was held on Friday, April 26^th, at Tenaris and had a hands-on workshop and tour of Tenaris.

Ashley Cuglietta, Senior Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Indigenous Relations said all youth who participated in this event on Thursday and Friday last week went home with the knowledge to begin their journey to an electrical apprenticeship.

“By trying this skilled trade, we hope youth participating in the Tools for Success event last week see that becoming an electrician is a rewarding career and are inspired to pursue that career further,” said Cuglietta, “Skills Ontario is grateful for all the support Sault College and Tenaris have provided in making this event possible.”

“We are glad to open our doors to show participating youth the important role an electrician has in an advanced manufacturing facility such as ours,” said Martin Castro, President of Tenaris in Canada. “We’re proud to partner on initiatives such as Tools for Success that provide youth with a unique opportunity to gain insights, get an up-close look at the career they’re aspiring to be in action, and to better understand the opportunities for growth and development these careers offer.”

“Sault College is pleased to collaborate with Skills Ontario and Tenaris on the Tools for Success event and offer Indigenous youth and young women an interactive experience and opportunity to learn more about skilled trades. By engaging with participants through this event, we will highlight both education and careers in the electrical trades and showcase how Sault College can support learning in this in-demand area. Offering post-secondary education in the electrical field and delivering in-school apprenticeship training for the Construction and Industrial Electrician trades, Sault College is a great place to ignite a passion for skilled trades and we look forward to fostering exploration and learning through this event,” said Corey Meunier, Dean, Technology, Trades and Apprenticeship at Sault College.

Tools for Success is a series of in-person events hosted across the province to educate underrepresented people on use of tools, skilled trade & technology careers and in-demand careers specifically in the construction sector.

This event is organized the Skills Ontario Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion department (DE&I.)  Skills Ontario DE&I initiatives aim to outreach to (but not limited to); youth at risk, youth living in poverty, Indigenous youth, Black youth, people of colour, newcomers, or youth with disabilities.

This is the first time Skills Ontario DE&I Initiatives is collaborating with the Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives to run a Tools for Success event. For more information about both programs, please visit skillsontario.com/programs.