Twelve Conestoga students were awarded the Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades. The award is presented to incoming first-year students entering an eligible skilled trades program.
Twelve Conestoga students were awarded the Canerector Foundation Scholarship in the Skilled Trades this term.
The foundation supports Conestoga students through a multi-year scholarship program aimed at removing financial barriers for students pursuing their education. Selected students will receive a $1,000 entry award as well as $1,000 per term up to a maximum of $5,000.
Scholarship recipients (Canerector Scholars) also act as mentors and ambassadors for skilled trades, continuing to build capacity and strength needed in the trade sector locally and beyond.
A growing skills gap has emerged as the demand to keep pace with population growth and changing workforce demographics increases. Reports indicate more than 700,000 skilled tradespeople are set to retire by 2028. Canada needs more than 167,000 new apprentices alone to keep pace.
Congratulations to the newest recipients:
Megan Anderson - Woodworking Technology
Devin Benninger - Mechanical Technician - General Machinist
Avery Dearman - Mechanical Technician - General Machinist
Nathan Flatt - Motive Power Technician - Heavy Duty Equipment
Jackson Gies - Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
Nolan Krause - Mechanical Techniques - Plumbing
Camden Leddy - Powerline Technician
Carter Mechefske - Woodworking Technology
Ben Murray - Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
Cohen Pettit - Electrical Engineering Technician - Industrial
Creagan Roscoe - Heavy Construction Equipment Operation (Brantford)
Jack Thompson - Powerline Technician
This marks the fourth year of support from the foundation. During the 2024-2025 academic year, 35 new Canerector Foundation scholarships were awarded to Conestoga students.
Several events throughout the year aimed at inspiring and preparing students to pursue careers in the skilled trades are made possible with support from the Canerector Foundation. That includes the annual TradeUcation for Educators, which welcomed 102 participants in October 2024 for hands-on workshops and presentations to help educators better understand skilled trades pathways to support secondary students with questions about possible career opportunities; an employer networking event, which connected Canerector Scholars with industry professionals to explore hiring practices, apprenticeship opportunities and build career-ready skills; and TradeUcation for Teens - Trades in Action, which introduced 18 youth (ages 12-14) to trades through hands-on activities led by Canerector Scholars, who took on leadership roles in planning and delivery.
Applications for students starting their program in January are now open until February 1, 2026.
Conestoga is a provincial leader in the delivery of trades and apprenticeship training to serve industry needs and growing communities. Comprehensive programming includes a wide range of programs that provide pathways to employment in skilled trades careers as well as pre-apprenticeship training and in-school training for apprentices. Visit the School of Trades & Apprenticeship for more information.