RBC Foundation commits $3.5M to help prepare youth for the jobs of tomorrow
by CM Staff
The funding will support the national roll-out of Jill of All Trades(TM), a targeted one-day program developed by Conestoga that will introduce more than 14,000 young women across Canada to the potential of skilled trades careers.
WATERLOO — On Nov. 9, RBC Foundation announced a combined donation of $3.5 million over five years to three Waterloo Region post-secondary institutions: University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College. Powered by RBC Future Launch, the funds will help develop programs with work integrated learning opportunities to help support “green” collar work1 and inclusivity in the skilled trades.
This collaboration is part of RBC Future Launch’s 10-year, $500 million commitment to helping Canadian youth prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. Graduates from these programs will have the capabilities to contribute to Canada’s skills revolution and be among the next generation of leaders in sustainability and the skilled trades industries.
“By investing in our students, we are investing in our future. Supporting the trades and “green” skills learning is key to preparing youth for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Claude DeMone, Regional President, Southwestern Ontario, RBC. “It is estimated that 15 per cent of Canada’s labour force is expected to be disrupted over the next 10 years as we transition to a net-zero economy. There is an urgent need for businesses and governments to step up and do more. That’s why we are partnering with three of Canada’s respected post-secondary institutions, to help prepare youth for the future world of work.”
The donation includes $2 million to help launch a new interdisciplinary degree program at the University of Waterloo – the Bachelor of Sustainability and Finance Management. As part of this program, the funds will help establish a network of mentorship and experiential learning opportunities and develop a hub for sustainability integration which will connect students with faculty and industry partners to create a forum for sharing knowledge and research.
Over the next five years, RBC Foundation’s $850,000 commitment to Wilfrid Laurier University will support new programming in the area of climate change management.
RBC Foundation’s $650,000 donation to Conestoga College will be directed to its ongoing efforts to help change the current perception of what it is like to learn and work within the skilled trades, recruit youth from marginalized communities, and enhance career support resources for new skilled trades professionals.
The funding will support the national roll-out of Jill of All Trades(TM), a targeted one-day program developed by Conestoga that will introduce more than 14,000 young women across Canada to the potential of skilled trades careers. The funding will also be used to establish a Skilled Trades Talent Development hub to help individuals from underrepresented groups develop skills for success in the workplace, and create pathways to entrepreneurship through Conestoga’s Entrepreneurship Collective for skilled trades professionals hoping to launch or build their own businesses.
