Youth Skills & Trades Expo Inspires Scarborough Students to Explore Rewarding Careers

Swahili-speaking families encouraged to consider skilled trades as pathway to success

By Khalid Magram

SCARBOROUGH, ONTARIO — Hundreds of high school students, parents, employers, colleges, unions, training organizations and government representatives filled Ellesmere Community Centre on Sunday afternoon, July 26, for the Youth Skills & Trades Expo, an event highlighting the growing opportunities available in Ontario’s skilled trades and essential services sectors.

Organized by Scarborough Southwest MPP David Smith, the expo brought together educators, employers and industry leaders to inspire young people to consider careers in the skilled trades. Scarborough Southwest Councillor Michael Thompson joined other provincial government officials and community partners in supporting the initiative, underscoring the importance of preparing Ontario’s next generation of skilled workers.

The community centre buzzed with activity as students and parents visited dozens of exhibitors offering hands-on demonstrations, career advice and information about apprenticeship pathways. Employers, colleges, unions and training organizations showcased careers that are in high demand across the province.

One of the event’s highlights was a demonstration by the David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute robotics team, which showcased its latest basketball hoop-shooting robot. The exhibit illustrated how innovation, engineering and teamwork can open doors to careers in advanced manufacturing, robotics and other technology-driven skilled trades.

Throughout the afternoon, organizers emphasized that skilled trades offer a practical and rewarding alternative to traditional academic pathways. Students interested in hands-on learning were encouraged to explore careers that provide competitive wages, long-term job security and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

Emergency services were also well represented. Toronto Fire Services introduced visitors to the many career opportunities within the organization, including firefighters, mechanics, fire prevention inspectors and public education specialists. Recruitment staff explained that the Toronto recruitment office provides guidance to prospective applicants interested in joining the service.

Representatives from Toronto Paramedic Services outlined the educational requirements for becoming a paramedic, including the completion of an accredited college-level paramedic program.They

also highlighted careers in emergency communications, ambulance dispatch and fleet management, noting that emergency medical services provide highly transferable skills and continue to recruit qualified professionals.

The strong turnout reflected Ontario’s growing demand for skilled workers in construction, manufacturing, transportation, emergency services and other essential industries.A message to the Swahili-speaking communityFor Ontario’s growing Swahili-speaking community, the expo served as an important reminder that success after high school can take many forms.

Many newcomer families encourage their children to pursue professions such as medicine, law, engineering or business. While those careers remain valuable, skilled trades offer another pathway to stable, well-paying employment and, for many, the opportunity to become business owners and employers.Young people with an interest in building, repairing, designing or solving practical problems may find rewarding careers as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, automotive service technicians, HVAC technicians, mechanics or emergency service professionals.

Ontario’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) gives eligible high school students the opportunity to begin apprenticeship training while completing their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Through cooperative education placements, students can gain workplace experience, earn school credits and begin accumulating apprenticeship hours before graduating.

Parents and students are encouraged to speak with their high school guidance counsellors about OYAP and other apprenticeship opportunities that can lead directly to rewarding careers in more than 140 skilled trades.As Ontario continues to face a shortage of skilled workers, programs such as OYAP are helping prepare the next generation for careers that offer strong earning potential, job security and opportunities for entrepreneurship.

For more information about the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, visit the Government of Ontario’s OYAP webpage and speak with your school’s guidance department about available apprenticeship pathways.For many young people who attended Sunday’s expo, the event was more than a career fair—it was an opportunity to discover that the skilled trades can provide a fulfilling future while helping build stronger communities across Ontario.

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