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OCS makes $20,000 donation to Hammer Heads Program

April 10, 2013 — At its annual State of the Industry and Economic Conference March 6 in Toronto, the Ontario Construction Secretariat announced a generous donation of $20,000 to the Central Ontario Building Trades Hammer Heads program. Aiming to ensure the sustainability of this vital program, the OCS felt the donation would aide in its day-to-day operations. The program, which offers at-risk youth an opportunity to become skilled in the construction trades, is important to building a strong, sustainable construction industry.

Mar. 27, 2013 — At
its annual State of
the Industry and Economic Conference March 6 in Toronto, the Ontario
Construction Secretariat announced a generous donation of $20,000 to
the Central Ontario Building Trades Hammer Heads program.

Aiming to ensure the sustainability of this
vital program, the OCS felt the donation would aide in its day-to-day
operations. The program, which offers at-risk youth an opportunity to become
skilled in the construction trades, is important to building a strong,
sustainable construction industry.

“The apprentices working in the Hammer Head
program fill a great need in our industry,” says Sean Strickland, CEO of the OCS. “Helping get at-risk youth employable skills will
benefit them for a lifetime and lay the foundation fora stable life. Raising a
family, becoming a productive member of society—are things all of these kids
strive to do, and the Hammer Heads program allows them to achieve them.”

The 12-week skills development programs
introduces youth to several different sectors of the construction industry.
Delivered by the Central Ontario Building Trades and supported by several unionized
training facilities around the GTA, Hammer Heads offers skill- and employment-based training within the
construction industry to youth from under-resourced neighbourhoods in the
community. The program offers safety training in the construction industry,
leadership and mentoring during progression in the program and a path to a work-based
apprenticeship, in the hopes of obtaining gainful employment in their trade of
choice.

“We are grateful for the support we have
received from the Ontario Construction Secretariat,” says James St. John, business manager of the Central Ontario Building Trades and Director of the
Hammer Heads Program. “Our program enables participants to not only gain the
experience and confidence necessary to successfully obtain an apprenticeship in
the construction trades, but it is also a starting point for a meaningful
career.”

Related Link
www.iciconstruction.com