Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) has announced a significant partnership with the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) and UA Canada to strengthen Canada's skilled plumbing workforce while supporting access to safe water and sanitation in Indigenous communities. This collaborative initiative focuses on engaging and upskilling Indigenous youth through comprehensive hands-on training, mentorship from professional plumbers, and exposure to rewarding career pathways in the skilled trades sector.
Building Sustainable Infrastructure Through Training
Building on previous successful initiatives, IWSH will support a community project in Walpole Island First Nation, an unceded territory of the Anishinabe Nations located in southwestern Ontario. Volunteers, industry professionals, and community members will work together to complete important plumbing upgrades to a community building that provides essential services including meals, shower facilities, and workforce placement assistance.
"Skills Canada is thrilled to promote this initiative and help expand its reach," said Shaun Thorson, CEO of Skills/Compétences Canada. "By featuring this project at the Skills Canada National Competition 2026 in Toronto, we can demonstrate how partnerships in the skilled trades strengthen communities, open doors for youth, and support sustainable infrastructure."
Comprehensive Training Program
As part of this initiative, IWSH will lead a pre-apprenticeship training program for community members with a particular focus on youth. The program will cover essential topics including:
- Jobsite safety protocols and procedures
- Foundational plumbing skills and techniques
- Hands-on installation experience with qualified professionals
- Sustainable infrastructure improvement methods
Participants will have the valuable opportunity to shadow qualified plumbing professionals as new fixtures and systems are installed, helping build local capacity while promoting sustainable infrastructure improvements. The IWSH Walpole Community Project, scheduled for October 2026, will continue the work started during last year's initiative by providing additional plumbing upgrades and repairs to the community's administrative building while expanding workforce development opportunities for Indigenous youth.
Industry Support and National Promotion
"Skilled plumbers are essential to safe potable water systems and sanitation," said Mike Gordon, UA Director of Canadian Training. "The United Association, representing over 397,000 professionals across North America including more than 63,000 in Canada, is proud to train and mentor the next generation. In collaboration with IWSH and IAPMO, this project reinforces high standards and expands our training outreach to support resilient communities."
At the Skills Canada National Competition 2026 in Toronto, IWSH and UA Canada will host an onsite booth to raise awareness of this upcoming community project and its impact. They will also participate in SCC's livestream broadcast to help amplify this important message about skilled trades development and community infrastructure improvement.
About Skills/Compétences Canada
Founded in 1989 as a national, not-for-profit organization, Skills/Compétences Canada works with partner organizations in each province and territory to collaborate with employers, educators, labor groups, and governments to promote skilled trade and technology careers among Canadian youth. Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, the organization offers experiential learning opportunities including skilled trade and technology competitions for hundreds of thousands of young Canadians through regional, provincial/territorial, national, and international events, as well as skilled trade awareness programs.
