ONTARIO CELEBRATES COMPLETION OF MAJOR SKILLS TRAINING CENTRE EXPANSION IN
CAMBRIDGE
Facility upgrades will help train an additional 5,000 construction workers for
good-paying, in-demand jobs
April 08, 2026
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills DevelopmentCAMBRIDGE — The Ontario government is marking the completion of a major training
centre expansion in Cambridge. Supported by an investment of more than $8.8
million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream, LiUNA Local
837’s training centre will help train up to 5,000 additional apprentices and
construction workers over the next five years, strengthening the province’s
skilled trades workforce and protecting workers through targeted investments in
training.
This investment is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring
the next generation of skilled workers have access to the world-class training
they need to land rewarding, good-paying careers. By expanding capacity and
access to high-quality training, Ontario is unlocking its economic potential and
preparing workers for rewarding, in-demand careers.
“To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion plan to build, Ontario
will need 400,000 more skilled trade workers over the next decade,” said Premier
Ford. “This state-of-the-art training centre will connect young people and job
seekers in Cambridge and Waterloo Region with the in-demand skills they need to
land good-paying careers in construction and build a stronger Ontario for all of
us.”
Through this investment, LiUNA Local 837 renovated existing classroom space at
its 330 Industrial Road facility and constructed a new 23,791-square-foot
expansion. The upgraded centre features a cutting-edge equipment lab and
simulator space, including virtual reality technology that allows apprentices to
safely train in realistic job site conditions and build hands-on skills before
entering the field.
“Canada has hospitals to build, highways to expand and homes that families
desperately need, and none of it happens without our skilled tradespeople,” said
David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“By investing in modern, world-class training facilities like this, we are
helping workers build rewarding careers in the skilled trades while ensuring
Ontario has the workforce it needs to build, grow and deliver critical
nation-building projects.”
“Training is the foundation of everything we build, and today, that foundation
gets even stronger. With support from the Ontario government and the leadership
of Labour Minister David Piccini, we mark the official expansion of a
state-of-the-art Training and Education Campus in Cambridge, advancing LiUNA’s
leadership in training and up-skilling the workforce that builds this province,”
said Nick Ciccone, Training Director, LiUNA Local 837. “This is a direct
investment in workers, in safety and in the future of our industry, delivering
modern training, real opportunity and a local workforce ready to get shovels in
the ground and projects moving across the region.”
To date, Ontario has invested $128.7 million through the Skills Development Fund
(SDF) Capital Stream to expand and modernize training facilities across the
province. These investments are protecting workers and strengthening Ontario’s
workforce by connecting people to in-demand careers, supporting employers and
building a more competitive, resilient economy.
QUICK FACTS
* Applications for the SDF Capital Stream
are accepted on an ongoing basis.
* There were 577,500 people employed in Ontario’s construction sector in 2025.
* It is expected that close to 400,000 skilled trades workers will be needed
over the next decade to fill job openings due to retirements and job growth.
* The SDF Capital Stream is funded exclusively by the Government of Ontario.
QUOTES
“Today’s opening of the LiUNA Local 837 Cambridge Training Centre is a major
investment in the people and future of Cambridge, strengthening a community
where the skilled trades have always played a vital role. By expanding local
training opportunities and preparing the next generation of workers, this centre
will help drive growth, build careers and keep Cambridge strong for years to
come.”
– Brian Riddell
Member of Provincial Parliament for Cambridge
“A lot of people in this community are looking for a path into the trades, not
just a job but something stable and meaningful that they can build a life
around. Expanding this training centre means more people can get that start
close to home and it opens the door for thousands of workers to get trained and
build the projects of our future.”
– Jess Dixon
Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler
“Ontario will need a historic number of skilled trade workers to deliver the
largest capital plan in Canadian history. By expanding access to skilled trades
training in Cambridge, our government is helping local workers get the skills
needed to build transit, homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.”
– Mike Harris
MPP for Kitchener—Conestoga
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
* Skills Development Fund Capital Stream
* Skilled Trades Ontario
* Employment Ontario – Free Training Programs and Employment Services for
Jobseekers, Workers and Businesses
