Habitat partners with ScotiaRISE on future trades employment
By Adam Freill
Labour Leadership Skills DevelopmentScotiabank and Habitat for Humanity Canada helping youth gain construction experience while building Habitat homes.
Habitat for Humanity Canada is partnering with ScotiaRISE, Scotiabank’s 10-year $500 million initiative that aims to promote economic resilience among disadvantaged groups, to grow Habitat Canada’s Every Youth Initiative with a commitment of $900,000 over three years.
“Through our ScotiaRISE initiative, we are helping disadvantaged groups gain financial success and better life opportunities by improving their employment prospects,” says Maria Saros, vice-president and global head of community investment strategy and communications at Scotiabank. “Habitat Canada’s Every Youth Initiative is uniquely positioned to help youth gain the skills and experience they might need. Scotiabank is proud to partner with Habitat Canada to help young people reach their employment goals.”
Habitat Canada’s Every Youth Initiative helps young people gain experience in skilled trades through hands-on experience building decent and affordable Habitat homes. The aim is to lead them to better employment opportunities and a more stable financial future.
According to a recent Build Force Canada report, 22 per cent of the 2020 labour force is expected to retire over the next decade, leaving a significant need for more skilled workers in the construction industry.
Building a Habitat home through the Every Youth Initiative is a unique opportunity for youth to gain such construction skills as pouring concrete, framing, drywalling and plumbing. Local Habitats partner with youth employment groups, construction associations and local colleges, high schools and Red Seal trade instructors to provide education and training opportunities.
In 2021, Habitat for Humanity completed 20 Every Youth Initiative projects across the country involving unemployed youth, youth in high schools, colleges and universities, and youth from local Indigenous communities.
“Scotiabank’s generous commitment is an investment in the future of our youth,” says Julia Deans, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada. “There are growing needs for trained individuals to enter the construction industry and to better support youth with training and employment opportunities.”
