RBC invests $500,000 to support skilled trades at Algonquin College

RBC Foundation has pledged $500,000 through its RBC Future Launch program to support College skilled trades initiatives over the next five years. RBC’s investment will help tackle a critical and worsening nationwide shortage of skilled trades workers and prepare students for inclusive and sustainable jobs of the future.

“We are very pleased that RBC chose to partner with Algonquin College on its initiatives to close the skills gap and train workers for the current and emerging disciplines that will be critical to a sustainable future,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and Chief Executive Officer.

“This multi-year investment will pay dividends for years to come. Our graduates will bring new skills into the workplace and become leaders who approach their work with a sustainability mindset.”

Powered by RBC Future Launch, this collaboration builds on RBC’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.

RBC’s donation will help Algonquin College increase enrolment in skilled trades programs, including in short-term “upskilling” programs for certified workers; boost work-integrated learning opportunities, such as coops and field placements; provide industry networking and event opportunities that focus on topics of interest to industry, including the development of a diverse talent pool; and support projects and applied research partnerships that prioritize sustainability.

“There’s a huge shortage of people in skilled trades. With retirements coming up, it’s only going to get worse. We need to act now. This is why RBC is joining forces with Algonquin College to help attract more people to the trades,” says Marjolaine Hudon, Regional President at RBC. “Creating on-the-job learning and showcasing career opportunities will help attract more students — women, men, people of diverse backgrounds — to the trades. This will prepare them for critical jobs required to deliver key infrastructure and construction projects in the future.”

The 2021 RBC report Powering Up — Preparing Canada’s Skilled Trades for a Post-Pandemic Economy, sounded the alarm on an industry that expects to see more than 700,000 skilled tradespeople retire by 2028. There are not enough replacements in the pipeline to meet future demand.

Pandemic-accelerated technological innovations in the skilled trades and the push to reach net-zero by 2050 have also increased the challenge of replacing workers, the report shows. It concludes that future workers will need a high degree of technological savvy and of “soft skills” like creativity and problem-solving and tapping into the pool of underused talent, including women and immigrants.

Celebrating RBC

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