SCARBOROUGH — MPP David Smith, Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough Centre, hosted the first inaugural Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo at the Ellesmere Community Centre on July 26, 2026.
The event marked another important milestone in Ontario’s commitment to building a highly skilled workforce by connecting young people with career pathways that lead to bigger pay cheques while helping address labour shortages across the province. With over 500 people in attendance and more than 30 organizations participated in the Expo, it provided hands-on demonstrations, career information and opportunities to connect directly with employers and training providers.
The Expo builds on another historic milestone for Ontario following the successful royal assent of Bill 117 – The Skilled Trades Week Act, 2024, introduced by MPP David Smith. The legislation officially proclaimed the first full week of November each year as Skilled Trades Week in Ontario, with the inaugural Skilled Trades Week celebrated in November 2025. The Act recognizes the vital role skilled tradespeople play in building Ontario’s economy while encouraging more young people to pursue careers in one of Ontario’s 144 skilled trades.
With demand for skilled workers continuing to grow across Ontario, careers in the skilled trades offer young people a direct pathway to bigger paycheques, meaningful work and long-term career security. Through apprenticeships and hands-on training, students can earn while they learn, avoid significant student debt and secure careers that are essential to building homes, hospitals, schools, roads and critical infrastructure across the province.
As Ontario advances major nation-building projects, including the development of the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario, the province is preparing for significant economic growth and an unprecedented demand for skilled workers. The mining, construction, energy and manufacturing sectors are expected to create more than 150,000 job opportunities over the next decade. The Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo was designed to help prepare the next generation of workers to take advantage of these opportunities and build rewarding careers close to home.
The Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo also supports Ontario’s efforts to address youth unemployment by exposing students to career opportunities they may not have previously considered and connecting them with employers actively seeking the next generation of skilled workers.
MPP Smith thanked Hon. Stephen Lecce – Minister of Energy and Mines, Hon. David Piccini – Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, PA Mohammed Firin – Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, PA Sheref Sabawy – Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Councillor Michael Thompson -Toronto City Councillor for Scarborough Centre and Division Commander Paul O’Brien – Toronto Fire Services for their support in making the inaugural event a success.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees experienced interactive demonstrations and presentations from industry leaders and education partners. Students from the Pink Titans Robotics Team at David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute showcased their award-winning robotics program and demonstrated how STEM education connects directly to careers in the skilled trades. David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute offers Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs in Health and Wellness, Information and Communication Technology, and Horticulture and Landscaping, making the school a leader in applied learning within the Toronto District School Board.
Sherwood Electromotion introduced students to career opportunities in Ontario’s growing renewable energy sector, highlighting its work supporting wind power generation through advanced equipment refurbishment and technical services. Representatives also discussed the company’s employee referral program and encouraged attendees to apply for current employment opportunities.
MPP Smith extends his sincere appreciation to the labour organizations that participated in the Expo and continue to play a vital role in training Ontario’s future workforce, including Carpenters’ Union Local 27, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 804, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) Local 46, UA Local 46, and all of the union partners who showcased the rewarding careers, apprenticeship opportunities and pathways available through Ontario’s skilled trades. Their commitment to mentoring and developing the next generation of tradespeople is helping build a stronger workforce and a more prosperous Ontario.
The Expo also featured an interactive culinary workshop led by Chef Smiley, where aspiring chefs learned practical kitchen skills through hands-on instruction. Participants prepared banana bread, fresh pasta with sauce, vegetable and fruit salad while learning proper knife handling skills, food preparation techniques, hygiene, the safe use of professional kitchen equipment and utensils, and the education, training and certifications required to pursue a career in the culinary art.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, the Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo is expected to become an annual event, providing even more young people with opportunities to explore careers that strengthen Ontario’s workforce, support economic growth and build stronger communities.
“Our government is creating opportunities for the next generation by investing in the skilled trades and ensuring young people have the tools they need to build successful careers,” said David Smith, MPP for Scarborough Centre. “The first-ever Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo was created to inspire students to explore rewarding careers that offer good-paying jobs, long-term stability and opportunities to build Ontario’s future. By bringing together employers, unions, colleges and industry partners under one roof, we are helping young people make informed decisions about their futures while addressing Ontario’s growing demand for skilled workers.”
– MPP David Smith
QUICK FACTS
- More than 500 people attended the first-ever Youth Skilled Trades & Careers Expo.
- More than 30 employers, unions, colleges, training providers and community organizations participated.
- Bill 117 – The Skilled Trades Week Act, 2024, introduced by MPP David Smith, officially proclaimed the first full week of November as Skilled Trades Week in Ontario.
- Ontario celebrated its first-ever Skilled Trades Week in November 2025.
- Ontario has 144 recognized skilled trades, many of which offer excellent wages, apprenticeship opportunities and strong long-term career prospects.