New $5k bursary announced for students looking to pursue skilled trades in N.S.
Due to a labour shortage, the construction industry in Nova Scotia is continuing to try and find ways and new avenues to attract more people into the skilled trades.
Jill Balser, the minister of labour, skills and immigration announced a new bursary program today for students interested in studying construction and pursuing a trade at Nova Scotia Community Colleges across the province.
“It’s about removing barriers," said Balser. "The skilled trades are for everyone, and we know we need more skilled trades professionals to build our houses, hospitals and schools."
Heather Cruickshanks has been in the sheet metal fabrication business for nearly 40 years and says the biggest challenge facing the construction industry today is the massive worker shortage.
"Construction has to be one of the most rewarding fields you could be in, there's never two days the same, but unfortunately we have huge hurdles and stresses today," said Cruickshanks, co-owner with L.E. Cruickshanks Sheet Metal Ltd. in Halifax.
"We can't find people to do the work," said Cruickshank, who applauds the government's move to add a bursary program to recruit potential NSCC students into the skilled trades.
"I think we have to do a better job at recruiting and letting people know what kind of trade opportunities are out there," said Cruickshanks.
The new NSCC bursary will support up to 320 NSCC students looking for a future career in the trades, the deadline to apply is July 18th and those eligible can receive $5,000 to help pay for tuition and living costs.
Balser announced the bursary program at the Trades and Exhibition Hall, a trades showroom operated by the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council, which happened to be celebrating its 10th anniversary of the educational trade venue.
"We thought we'd do one visit a month, we are now averaging three visits per week and over 12 thousand visitors have either been informed, inspired or educated on what opportunities are available in the skilled trades," said Trent Soholt, executive director with the Nova Scotia Construction Sector Council.
The NSCC built the trades showroom in 2014 and Soholt says they are focussed on showing the generation the opportunities in the skilled trades.
The NSCC bursary will only help open more doors says Soholt.
"It really helps remove those barriers so individuals can be successful in pursuing those occupations and become those trades professionals that we want them to be," said Soholt.
Cruickshanks says any skilled trade is a good career and it needs to be recognized as such and says there needs to be more appreciation for that kind of work.
"There's nothing more rewarding than driving by and saying, 'I worked on that building, I did that job, or we worked on this,'" said Cruickshanks.
Balser says the goal is to add 5,000 more apprentices to the system over the span of the next three years to help address the labour shortage.
This bursary announcement is part of a $100 million announcement the province made in October to help recruit, retain and train more people in the skilled trades.
Balser estimates the construction industry will need to add 11,000 skilled trade workers by 2030 to meet the growing demand.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.
Biscuits with possible plastic pieces, metal found in ground pork: Here are the recalls for this week
Here are the latest recalls Canadians should watch out for, according to Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.