Ontario Helping More Students Learn About Rewarding Careers in the Skilled Trades

September 17, 2025

The Level Up! skilled trades career fairs are back in 12 communities across Ontario from September 17 to December 12, 2025.

These fairs will introduce students to 144 skilled trades from electricians and boilermakers to heavy equipment operators and automotive technicians. Students in grades 7 to 12 will have access to interactive exhibits, hands-on activities and direct engagement with tradespeople, employers and training organizations.

Nearly 1 in 3 workers in Ontario with an apprenticeship or trade certificate is aged 55 or older and nearing retirement. And over the next decade, Ontario will need more than 500,000 workers in skilled trades-related occupations to help meet our $200 billion infrastructure plan.

Our record investments in skilled trades training are working, with more than 16,400 youth aged 15 to 24 registered for apprenticeships this year, the highest in the last 10 years

As announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, our government is investing nearly $1 billion more through the Skills Development Fund over the next three years, bringing the total to $2.5 billion, to support key industrial sectors and expand access to good-paying careers

This is all part of our government’s plan to protect and grow a strong, resilient workforce in the face of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty.

Fair Schedule:

• Grafton – Haldimand Community Memorial Arena – September 17 to 18
• Barrie – Essa Agriplex – October 1 to 2
• Sudbury – Sudbury Community Arena – October 8 to 9
• Timmins – Northern College (Timmins Campus) – October 15 to 16
• Thunder Bay – Canadian Lakehead Exhibition – October 22 to 23
• Windsor – Event Centre at LaSalle Landing (LaSalle Event Centre) October 29 to 30
• Hamilton/Ancaster – Ancaster Fairgrounds – November 5 to 6
• London – J-AAR Expo Centre – November 11 to 13
• Oshawa – Tribute Communities Centre (OHL Arena) November 18 to 20
• Mississauga – The International Centre– November 25 to 28
• Kingston – Slush Puppie Place – December 2 to 3
• Ottawa – EY Centre – December 10 to 12