National Skilled Trade and Technology Week
What is National Skilled Trade and Technology Week (NSTTW)?
NSTTW is a key date in the annual Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) calendar. The goal of this week-long event is to promote and host awareness raising events around the many career opportunities in skilled trades and technology in Canada. During NSTTW organizations from across Canada get involved with SCC in a “hands-on” way to promote skilled trades and technology careers to youth, parents and the public.
Why is it happening?
It is clear that skilled trade and technology careers are important for our economy and an excellent career path for many young Canadians. Yet many Canadians either do not know what trade careers look like or what they entail. This week of events and information is dedicated to raise awareness through insight into the career options available.
Skills/Compétences Canada’s plan is to work with its member organizations and partners to facilitate and host skilled trades and technology activities in regions across Canada, to engage business and political leaders in discussions about the importance of these careers for our country, to focus media attention on these careers and to highlight those individuals that pursued these paths themselves.
Goals
- Get Canada’s youth thinking about skilled trade and technology careers as a viable, interesting option.
- Get Canada’s youth to engage in projects/experiences involving skilled trades and technology, fostering conversations between industries, teachers and students.
- Engage with industry thought leaders and political decision makers creating a dialogue focused on the importance of encouraging uptake in skilled trades and technology careers to ensure that Canada remains at the forefront of competitive advantage in global economies.
Members of the Skills Community Gathered at John F. Kennedy High School and John F. Kennedy Adult Education Centre, in Montréal, QC, for the 19th National Skilled Trade and Technology Week
Skills/Compétences Canada (SCC) was proud to celebrate the 19th National Skilled Trade and Technology Week (NSTTW), aimed at raising awareness to students and educators about the incredible skilled trade and technology career opportunities available across Canada. SCC hosted an event to highlight NSTTW on November 7th, at John F. Kennedy High School and John F. Kennedy Adult Education Centre. Special guests included: Dr. Patrick Rouble, President, Skills/Compétences Canada, Nick Katalifos, Director General, English Montreal School Board, Cynthia Gauthier, Monster Jam Rider, and Tommaso Maffei, Skills/Compétences Canada Alumni and Bronze Medalist in secondary Cabinetmaking at the 2023 Skills Canada National Competition, in Winnipeg. Skills/Compétences Canada was also happy to announce that the 2024 Skills Canada National Competition will be hosted in Quebec City, on May 30 and 31, at Expocité.
Following the official program, over 300 students from local schools participated in around 15 Try-A-Trade® and Technology activities hosted by educators and industry experts. These activities ranged from cooking, welding, to car painting, just to name a few. Throughout the day, students learned about the interesting and important educational pathways and career opportunities in several different trade and technology sectors. Also highlighted at the event was the importance of Reading, one of the Skills for Success identified as fundamental to working in the skilled trade and technology industries. For more information on the Skills for Success visit the Skills for Success Website.
During the week, SCC’s provincial/territorial Member Organizations across the country also hosted a series of events to promote skilled trade and technology activities in Canada.
Check out our NSTTW 2023 recap document for the highlights.
Our provincial and territorial Member Organizations are running a variety of initiatives across the country where you could learn more about a great career in the skilled trades and technologies!