Ontario – The Ontario government is investing $12 million to provide people with criminal records a second chance to find meaningful jobs and give back to their communities.
This is part of Ontario’s $700 million Skills Development Fund, which supports innovative ideas for training and skills development to help drive Ontario’s economic growth and build a stronger province.
The funding recipients include:
Building Up
- Building Up is receiving $593,956 for a holistic project aimed at improving job retention and career progression for individuals who face significant barriers to employment and that have completed their pre-apprenticeship program.
- This project will help 200 people work in the skilled trades in communities in the Toronto area.
Calibre Recruitment Inc.
- Calibre Recruitment Inc. is receiving $590,365 for a project that aims to reduce the barriers that people with previous interactions with the criminal justice system face when trying to access employment, while also helping local employers address critical labour shortages.
- The program is designed to give individuals the skills training, job coaching, and wrap-around supports required to access and transition into stable employment opportunities.
- This project will help 30 people access employment in sectors including food and beverage processing, hospitality, and manufacturing in communities in London and the surrounding area.
Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region
- Community Justice Initiatives of Waterloo Region is receiving $119,552 for a project that will work with people who have lived experience of incarceration or criminalization and local business leaders to co-design an approach to training and employment that supports both the needs of the employer, along with the needs of program participants.
- This project will help 96 people work in various sectors in the Kitchener Area.
Fernie Youth Services
- Fernie Youth Services is receiving $514,459 for a project focusing on removing barriers in education and skills training opportunities for justice-involved and racialized youth by delivering new and innovative approaches to skills training. This includes providing tools, equipment, and wrap-around supports to jobseekers, such as mentorship, job placement and coaching, mental health supports, educational supports, career and learning plans, and social supports, such as housing and medical care.
- This project will help 25 people work in various sectors in communities in the Toronto Area.
Hammer Heads Program
- Hammer Heads Program is receiving $204,850 to support a project aimed at improving job retention and career progression for apprentices in their program, by guiding them through the first years of their employment with regular follow-ups in the field to ensure sustainability and long-term success.
- This project will help 200 people work in the skilled trades in communities in the Toronto area.
Prison Fellowship Canada
- Prison Fellowship Canada is receiving $500,000 for a comprehensive project that will provide in-class and on-the-job training support for apprentices, including tutoring, exam preparation, mentorship, and wrap-around supports that promote apprentice progression and obtaining the highest level of certification possible in a particular trade. It will also provide on-the-job supports to help journeypersons provide the training that apprentices need to successfully progress through their program.
- This project will help 100 people work in the skilled trades in communities in Mississauga.
SPOT App
- SPOT App is receiving $1,640,000 for a specialized program that will provide jobseekers from the second chances population with job opportunities and training through a new mobile job placement app. They will also work with employers to reduce stigma and promote the benefits of giving people with prior involvement in the criminal justice system a second chance.
- This project will help 260 people work in a range of sectors in communities in the Toronto area.
Scale Hospitality
- Scale Hospitality is receiving $6,000,000 to support an industry-led initiative aimed at supporting growth in the hospitality sector through various training opportunities. These include initiatives such as micro-credential training programs and increasing accessibility for those who face barriers to employment through community partnerships.
- This project will help 1,205 people work in hospitality in communities in the Toronto area.
The Oaks Revitalization Association
- The Oaks Revitalization Association is receiving $1,943,177 for a project that will support young offenders by training them as apprentices and helping them to transition into employment in the Skilled Trade industry.
- The Skilled Trade Development program provides access to the Skilled Trade labour market and rehabilitates and reintegrates young offenders back into society. The mentorship program will provide core life skills, mental health support, reintegration, anti gangs/crime, and support dealing with on-the-job challenges. Clients will be mentored and placed into apprenticeships within the skilled trades industry.
- Breaking the cycle of recidivism will have meaningful change for marginalized communities. The Oaks will be working with Toronto Police Service, Correctional Services, Toronto Focus Tables, Community Agencies, and DAP (Direct Accountability Program).
- This project will help 16 people work in communities in Central Toronto in the first cohort.