This week is National Skilled Trades and Technology Week, and we’re celebrating the real people building Ontario’s future through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades, funded by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund.

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After more than a decade in the film industry, Kaia found herself at a crossroads. When work in film slowed down, she knew she needed to pivot to something more stable — a career that would let her build a future and use her skills in new ways.

Kaia’s decision reflects a growing trend across Ontario. With 700,000 skilled trades workers expected to retire over the next decade, many people are discovering the trades as a viable and rewarding second career. For women, the opportunity is even greater: while they make up nearly half of Ontario’s overall workforce, less than 5% of skilled trades jobs are currently held by women.

That’s what makes Kaia’s journey so significant. Through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades program, funded by Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, she gained the training, guidance, and resources to make the transition successfully.

Through the Gateway to the Trade program, Kaia was connected her directly with an employer, giving her the start she needed in the HVAC industry - and the confidence to begin her apprenticeship journey.

“The support from Gateway was unique and pretty awesome. I’ll tell anyone who will listen - this program is amazing.”

Today, Kaia is thriving as an HVAC installer, creating comfort and safety in homes across Toronto. She takes pride in her work — and in the future she’s building.

“In film, what I made was torn down the next day. Here, I’m creating things that make people comfortable and safe in their homes, and hopefully, they’ll last for generations.”

Kaia’s story captures what’s possible when second chances meet real opportunity - and when programs like Gateway to the Trades make it easier for women to enter, and succeed in, Ontario’s growing skilled trades sector.

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Every story like this is part of a much bigger picture. Through ApprenticeSearch.com’s Gateway to the Trades, more than 1,480 people have been hired into skilled trades roles, and over 650 have started apprenticeships across Ontario.

The program helps remove real barriers — from the cost of safety gear and tools to the confidence gap that comes with starting something new. Participants get coaching, certifications, and support that help them not only get hired but stay employed.

With an 80% employment rate and over $1.3 million in industry contributions leveraged to date, Gateway continues to show that when we invest in people, good things happen — for job seekers, employers, and Ontario’s skilled trades community.

Related National Skilled Trades and Technology Week Stories:

Read Mustafa's Story: From Rejection to a Real Start

Read Sarah's Story: Finding Her Fit After Job Loss

Read Samhar's Story: A Newcomer's Path to the Trades