Ten Humber College students have been announced as the College’s inaugural recipients of the Schulich Builders: Scholarships for Skilled Trades.

In February, The Schulich Foundation announced the scholarships, which is Canada’s largest skilled trade scholarship program, at Humber College’s Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation. Recognizing a decline in the number of skilled workers in Canada, particularly tradespeople, Schulich Builders Scholarships address the worker shortage by amplifying the importance and value of pursuing a career in the skilled trades through financial and leadership support.

In total, 10 Ontario colleges were selected to participate in the Schulich Builders program. Each college receives funding to support 10 scholarships each year to cover tuition, tools and living expenses for students enrolled in a full-time skilled trades program. Five scholarships at $20,000 each are intended for students enrolled in a one-year certificate program, and five scholarships valued at $40,000 are directed for students in two-year diploma programs.

“We are proud to promote the skilled trades and support students pursuing this rewarding career path,” said Judy Schulich, director, The Schulich Foundation. “Canadians rely on the trades to build and maintain infrastructure critical for prosperous communities. Our challenge today is not having enough of these talented people to meet the demand.”

Humber students receiving the scholarships are:  

• York’s Sophia Talik and Brampton’s Miranda Isaacs from the Carpentry and Renovation Technician Diploma program;  

• Brampton’s Nicolas Coombs and Etobicoke’s Anthony Sorbara from the Electrical Techniques Ontario College Certificate program;  

• Oakville’s Leon Tworek and Thorold’s Adam Mongelluzzo from the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician Diploma program;  

• Woodbridge’s Matteo Macaro, Etobicoke’s Oshane Tucker and North York’s Mitchell Phan from the Plumbing Techniques Ontario College Certificate program;  

• Cargill’s Luke Schmidt from the Industrial Woodworking Technician Diploma program.

During the February announcement, it was noted that by 2026, one in five job openings in the province will be in the skilled trades and that there was a 29 per cent increase of women in the skilled trades in Ontario year over year.

“Skilled trades are a critical part of driving the Ontario economy forward and Humber is proud to prepare students for these careers," said Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber College. "We are pleased that The Schulich Foundation shares this commitment and is providing a competitive advantage to students pursuing these important jobs of tomorrow. As prominent leaders, The Schulich Foundation’s efforts will raise the profile for skilled trades occupations in Ontario.”

Humber’s Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology is training the next generation of skilled trades workers by taking students beyond a traditional classroom and providing hands-on practice in a simulated worksite. On-site facilities include plumbing, carpentry, electrical, millwright, welding, industrial woodworking, construction and renovation labs.  

The centre is being expanded by more than 16,000 sq. ft. to provide additional learning spaces and facilities for students to gain hands-on experience before entering the work force. Once finished, it will offer a refrigeration lab, a gas and oil lab, an AR/VR/XR simulation studio, a heat plant, and more.   

Earlier this year, as part of Humber’s commitment to encourage more women in trades, the centre held an event to introduce girls to the possibility of a career in the skilled trades. The Schulich Builders program is helping encourage more women to enter the skilled trades and two female Humber College students are recipients in the inaugural year.

Students looking for more information on the scholarships can visit humber.ca/schulichbuilders.