GNI Donates $3,000 in Scholarship Funds to The Centre for 2018

Photo: Banner advertising scholarships at The Centre for Skills Development & Training.

In an ongoing effort to bring greater diversity to the construction industry, Great Northern Insulation (GNI) is proud to announce that a total of $3,500 in scholarship funds is being donated to the Centre for Skills Development & Training (The Centre). These scholarships help people gain education and trade skills regardless of the stage they are in life.

The programs receiving six $500 scholarships are Home Renovation/Construction, Women in Skilled Trades (WIST), and Get in Gear (“Try a Trade” for people 17-30 years old).

“We are happy to have found an opportunity to provide skilled trades scholarships to people who need them to enter the construction industry. The industry is growing and building codes will soon require mandatory continuous insulation, airtightness targets in buildings, along with higher demands for energy efficiency.. This makes the need for more skilled insulation installers vital to the success of the trade and the future of the buildings we live and work in,” said Matt Mulligan, Vice President of Great Northern Insulation.

GNI actively seeks opportunities that encourage more women to enter the insulation trade. The first collaboration between GNI and The Centre was a presentation on health and safety and a spray foam demonstration for The Centre’s Tiny Home Project. The attendees of the presentation were cohorts of the Women In Skilled Trades (WIST) program.

“We have consistently heard from skilled trades employers that hiring needs are critical,” says CAO Lisa Rizzato. “We are pleased to have companies like GNI providing scholarship support so more people may advance their skilled trades careers. Skilled tradespeople provide quality, in-demand services. That not only enhances the workforce but our citizens’ quality of life as well.”

The scholarships are:

Home Reno/Construction  

Scholarship frequency – once per year

Scholarship amount - $500

Scholarship name – The Great Northern Insulation “Leader in Construction” Award

Application Criteria – This award would be given to a student in the class who shows the highest quality construction skills and demonstrates leadership among their peers in the program.  Candidates would be nominated by the instructors in the program based on observations during the course.

WIST (Women in Skilled Trades)

Scholarship frequency – Once per year

Scholarship amount – $500

Scholarship name – The Great Northern “Inspiration” Award

Application Criteria – Make a short video (3 min or less) or write (under 500 words) to tell us about what inspired you to pursue a career in trades/construction.  Your application will not be evaluated on grammar or language abilities, all you need to do is inspire us with your story!

GIG (Get in Gear)

Scholarship frequency – Four times per year

Scholarship amount – $500

Scholarship name –The Great Northern “Insulate your Future” Award

Application Criteria – Make a short video (3 min or less) or write (under 500 words) about why you decided to take the GIG program and how you think it will change your future. Your application will not be evaluated on grammar or language abilities, all you need to do is convince us with your story!

You can read more about The Centre and the programs the scholarships will be supporting: www.thecentre.on.ca/Skilled-Trades

ABOUT GREAT NORTHERN INSULATION

Great Northern Insulation is the largest insulation contractor in Canada with six branches across Ontario and more than 300 employees. Founded in 1980 in Woodstock, Ontario, Great Northern Insulation has been contracted to construct and renovate hundreds of thousands of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. For more information, please visit www.gni.ca

ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING

The Centre is a financially independent, not-for-profit organization, delivering free government-funded programs and fee-based programs to help people at various stages of life (youth, job seekers, second career seekers and newcomers to Canada) get on a path to career success. For more information, please visit www.thecentre.on.ca