Legacy Builders program exposes Waterloo region students to careers in construction
As the need for skilled trades people continues to rise, a local non-profit is opening the eyes of youth to careers in construction.
Legacy Builders is a school-based program that teaches students as young as 12 and 13 years old about various trades and job opportunities within the sector.
It's run by Hewson Brothers Building Supply and Melloul-Blamey Construction with the assistance of the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region.
Through a detailed digital lesson plan and in-person professionals who volunteer to help, students hear first-hand stories and take part in activities to build familiarity about the positive aspects of construction work.
"There's no shortage of careers in the industry," Beth Marchant, head of marketing at Hewson Brothers who helps spearhead the program, said.
"Whether it's the typical skilled trades, whether you're a woman or a minority, there's absolutely no limitations."
The program runs for approximately 90 minutes and culminates with students being divided into teams to work together on bid for a fictional construction job. As part of the process, students take on various roles in an attempt to be selected as the winner.
The winners receive a special prize and every student goes home with apparel and information about educational requirements and the careers available.
For Marchant and her team, it's been a focus to bring the program to the younger demographic to highlight opportunities early on.
"If kids don't know those careers exist, they can't choose them," she said.
"At the end of Grade 8, they're picking their courses based on what they think they want to do. For us, it was really important that we get in there when they're in Grade 7 and 8 and starting to loosely have an idea of what they think they want to do."
It seems to be working. Over the past four years, the program has operated exclusively in Waterloo region but has since gained interest from Halton, Niagara and other areas throughout the province.
Another point of emphasis is to change the way the industry is viewed. While it's still a male dominated field, it's changing, Marchant said.
And as a woman, Marchant feels an obligation to help break down the barriers to entry. It's a message she's comfortable sharing thanks to the example set by Hewson Brothers and Melloul-Blamey.
"It's not the same industry that it was," she said.
"There absolutely is a welcoming in a sense. Men in the industry aren't uncomfortable with having women on the job sites. It's about example. Being able to show the students our own careers."
Then there's the awareness around the need for workers.
Tens of thousands of workers are retiring in the next 10 to 15 years and there aren't enough younger people lined up to fill them, Marchant said.
While it's concerning, it could also be seen as enticing for students.
Whether it's residential or commercial, work is always on the go, Marchant said.
"Ontario on its own is experiencing a historic labour shortage for construction and skilled trades," she said.
"We're in, pretty much, a recession proof industry. We're always going to need new schools, hospitals, roads, community centres and long-term care. Those are never the things the government is cutting funding on."
