The Schulich Foundation announced the launch of Canada’s largest skilled trade scholarship program at Humber College on Feb. 10.
Humber College President and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan began the event by recognizing the skilled trades program.
“We are going to highlight the importance of skilled trades as a part of the college sector and as a vital economic driver in Ontario,” she said.
Ten colleges, including Humber, will be offering 10 scholarships per year: five $20,000 scholarships will be given to students in one-year certificate programs and five $40,000 scholarships will be given to students in two-year diploma programs.
The announcement comes weeks after The Barrett Foundation gave a record-breaking $30 million donation to Humber College for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce were among the guests to laud the scholarship program and support the need for skilled trades workers in Ontario.
“These are people that we need to keep the economy going,” Ford said.
Emma Kilgannon, a Humber graduate from the Baking and Pastry Arts Management program, was among seven Ontario college students recognized by the provincial government and the Schulich Foundation for her participation in the 2022 WorldSkills competition.
She showed off her bronze-winning cheesecake alongside Lecce and Labour Minister Monte McNaughton.
“We’re all very passionate about what we do in our skilled trades,” Kilgannon said. “And that’s why I’m standing here right now.”
Malcolm Matwijec, a Centennial College graduate from the Heavy Vehicle Technology program, joined Kilgannon on stage and offered his advice to future skilled trade students.
“The only thing holding you back is yourself,” Matwijec said. “If you’re willing to better yourself, nobody can stop you from going further.”
As a way to recognize the students’ leadership who participated in the skills competition, Lecce and McNaughton presented Kilgannon and Matwijec a World Skills medal recognition banner.
“These banners recognize your success in becoming a medalist on the global stage in representing this country,” Lecce said. “We are very, very proud of you both.”
Judy Schulich, executive vice president of the Schulich Foundation, highlighted the need to reward students in the skilled trades program.
“This investment by the Schulich Foundation acknowledges the important role that colleges play in our society,” Schulich said. “We are proud to invest in the skilled trades as well as the colleges that train them.”
The Schulich Foundation has donated more than $350 million since it began and gives out more than 7,000 scholarships annually to students across the province.