Ontario Celebrates Completion of Major Skills Training Centre Expansion in Cambridge

April 9, 2026

Facility upgrades will help train an additional 5,000 construction workers for good-paying, in-demand jobs

CAMBRIDGE — The Ontario government is marking the completion of a major training centre expansion in Cambridge. Supported by an investment of more than $8.8 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream, LiUNA Local 837’s training centre will help train up to 5,000 additional apprentices and construction workers over the next five years, strengthening the province’s skilled trades workforce and protecting workers through targeted investments in training.

This investment is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by ensuring the next generation of skilled workers have access to the world-class training they need to land rewarding, good-paying careers. By expanding capacity and access to high-quality training, Ontario is unlocking its economic potential and preparing workers for rewarding, in-demand careers.

“To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion plan to build, Ontario will need 400,000 more skilled trade workers over the next decade,” said Premier Ford. “This state-of-the-art training centre will connect young people and job seekers in Cambridge and Waterloo Region with the in-demand skills they need to land good-paying careers in construction and build a stronger Ontario for all of us.”

Through this investment, LiUNA Local 837 renovated existing classroom space at its 330 Industrial Road facility and constructed a new 23,791-square-foot expansion. The upgraded centre features a cutting-edge equipment lab and simulator space, including virtual reality technology that allows apprentices to safely train in realistic job site conditions and build hands-on skills before entering the field.

“Canada has hospitals to build, highways to expand and homes that families desperately need, and none of it happens without our skilled tradespeople,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “By investing in modern, world-class training facilities like this, we are helping workers build rewarding careers in the skilled trades while ensuring Ontario has the workforce it needs to build, grow and deliver critical nation-building projects.”

“Training is the foundation of everything we build, and today, that foundation gets even stronger. With support from the Ontario government and the leadership of Labour Minister David Piccini, we mark the official expansion of a state-of-the-art Training and Education Campus in Cambridge, advancing LiUNA’s leadership in training and up-skilling the workforce that builds this province,” said Nick Ciccone, Training Director, LiUNA Local 837. “This is a direct investment in workers, in safety and in the future of our industry, delivering modern training, real opportunity and a local workforce ready to get shovels in the ground and projects moving across the region.”

To date, Ontario has invested $128.7 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream to expand and modernize training facilities across the province. These investments are protecting workers and strengthening Ontario’s workforce by connecting people to in-demand careers, supporting employers and building a more competitive, resilient economy.

Quick Facts

  • Applications for the SDF Capital Stream are accepted on an ongoing basis.
  • There were 577,500 people employed in Ontario’s construction sector in 2025.
  • It is expected that close to 400,000 skilled trades workers will be needed over the next decade to fill job openings due to retirements and job growth.
  • The SDF Capital Stream is funded exclusively by the Government of Ontario.

Quotes

“A lot of people in this community are looking for a path into the trades, not just a job but something stable and meaningful that they can build a life around. Expanding this training centre means more people can get that start close to home and it opens the door for thousands of workers to get trained and build the projects of our future.”

– Jess Dixon
Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener South—Hespeler

“Today’s opening of the LiUNA Local 837 Cambridge Training Centre is a major investment in the people and future of Cambridge, strengthening a community where the skilled trades have always played a vital role. By expanding local training opportunities and preparing the next generation of workers, this centre will help drive growth, build careers and keep Cambridge strong for years to come.”

– Brian Riddell
Member of Provincial Parliament for Cambridge

“Ontario will need a historic number of skilled trade workers to deliver the largest capital plan in Canadian history. By expanding access to skilled trades training in Cambridge, our government is helping local workers get the skills needed to build transit, homes, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.”

– Mike Harris
MPP for Kitchener—Conestoga

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