ONTARIO EXPANDS ACCESS TO SKILLED TRADES CERTIFICATION IN NORTHERN ONTARIO
New Kenora exam testing centre will help apprentices get certified closer to
home and enter the workforce faster
May 19, 2026
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills DevelopmentKENORA — The Ontario government is expanding access to careers in the skilled
trades in Northwestern Ontario by opening a local apprenticeship exam testing
centre in Kenora. Through a new partnership with Seven Generations Education
Institute and Skilled Trades Ontario, apprentices will be able to write their
certification exams closer to home, helping more apprentices complete their
training faster and build good-paying, in-demand careers in the North.
The new Kenora examination centre, facilitated by Skilled Trades Ontario, will
help remove longstanding barriers for apprentices who previously had to travel
to Thunder Bay, approximately five hours away, to write their exams, facing
hundreds in costs and hours of delay to certification. By expanding local access
to exams, Ontario is delivering on its plan to protect Ontario workers by
helping more tradespeople complete their training faster, enter the workforce
sooner and build long-term, in-demand careers in the communities that need them
most.
“Northern Ontario powers our province and by localizing certification centres
across Ontario, we’re tearing down barriers in the North that have kept talented
people out of the trades for too long,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour,
Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “When the path to certification is
shorter, more Ontarians get in faster, communities get the skilled workers they
need and Northern Ontario gets the workforce it deserves.”
The centre builds on Ontario’s broader efforts to modernize and strengthen
apprenticeship delivery. Since April 2025, Skilled Trades Ontario has taken on
the expanded responsibility of delivering apprenticeship exams directly at
training institutions provincewide for apprentices completing their final level
of in-school training. Over the past year, more than 5,400 final-level exams
have been administered across Ontario, a 386 per cent increase since STO assumed
responsibility.
“We appreciate the support of Premier Ford and Minister Piccini in expanding
access to apprenticeship certification across Ontario,” said Candice White, CEO
& Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario. “The opening of a local exam centre in
Kenora is an important step in reducing barriers for apprentices, particularly
in Northern communities where travel has long been a challenge. Skilled Trades
Ontario is continuing to expand exam delivery and strengthen our regional
presence, helping apprentices complete their certification closer to home and
supporting workforce development across the province.”
Improving access and streamlining pathways to the skilled trades in Northwestern
Ontario is part of the government’s ongoing plan to protect Ontario by building
a highly skilled workforce ready to meet growing demand and keep Ontario
resilient into the future. Through its $236 billion plan to build, the
government is delivering critical infrastructure projects that communities rely
on while connecting more people to stable, good-paying careers.
QUICK FACTS
* Nearly 1.3 million people are working in skilled trades-related occupations
in Ontario.
* Over the next decade, Northern Ontario is expected to need over 21,500
workers to fill job openings in skilled trades-related occupations.
* Supported by an investment of $5.5 million, the Tools Grant program offers
non-repayable grants (typically up to $1,000, depending on the trade) that
help eligible apprentices cover the cost of tools and equipment needed to
start and progress in their careers.
* Backed by $20.0 million in provincial investment, the Ontario Youth
Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) gives high school students the opportunity to
explore careers in the skilled trades and begin apprenticeship training while
completing their diploma.
* Training investment (construction and urban planning): Our government is
investing $75 million to train up to 7,800 additional students for in-demand
careers in construction and urban planning, helping address labour shortages
and support Ontario’s growing communities.
* Supported by an investment of $146.7 million, the In-Class Enhancement Fund
(IEF) supports training delivery agents across Ontario to deliver the
in-class portion of apprenticeship training, ensuring apprentices receive
high-quality instruction and can progress toward certification with planned
new class starts for over 37,000 participants.
* The Tools Grant and In-Class Enhancement Fund programs are funded in part by
the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
QUOTES
“We are bringing skilled trades examination testing right here to Kenora; to
break down barriers and ensure workforce opportunities stay closer to home. This
is a significant milestone for Kenora and the surrounding region, where no
longer will apprentices have to travel long hours on the Trans-Canada Highway
just to receive final certification.”
– Greg Rickford
Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation
“The City of Kenora is very happy about the Province’s announcement allowing
apprentices to complete their training and enter the workforce more quickly. We
are currently experiencing a large increase in commercial construction, and
skilled trades are key to ensuring these projects are completed on time. Looking
ahead, projects like the All Nations Hospital and the Kenora Chiefs Advisory
Campus of Care highlight the growing importance of skilled trades to our local
economy. Additionally, we are fortunate to have Seven Generations Education
Institute in Kenora, supporting the trades and offering this certification
opportunity. This announcement is excellent news for Kenora and the surrounding
area.”
– Andrew Poirier
Mayor of Kenora
“SGEI welcomes this opportunity to the region to support learners in the skilled
trades. Accessibility is something that SGEI prides itself in, and the ability
to address some of the barriers to the skilled trades is a key priority.”
– Brent Tookenay
CEO, Seven Generations Education Institute
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
* Skilled Trades Ontario
* Employment Ontario
