CWB Foundation Releases 2024-2025 Annual Report Showcasing Major Investments in Canada's Welding and Materials Joining Future Français
Hands-on skilled trades training, educator support, and over $5 million in impact. See the future of welding education.
Post this
"This year's report reflects a coordinated effort to meet labour market needs while increasing access to quality training, particularly in rural, remote, and equity-deserving communities," says Susan Crowley, Executive Director of the CWB Foundation. "We're proud to work alongside partners who believe in the power of hands-on education to change lives."
Highlights from the CWB Foundation 2024–2025 Annual Report include:
Over 90 programs delivered in over 140 communities, including new initiatives in Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, and Portland, Oregon.
More than $1.65 million invested in secondary school programs through capital and equipment grants, safety equipment, and technical educator training.
196 participants completed pre-employment training through programs like Women of Steel™ and Mind Over Metal™ Workshops.
168 educators and career counsellors received upskilling and technical training, with 652 welder qualifications issued through pre-employment and upskilling programs.
Participants in the Filling the Gap: Pressure Welder Training Program reported a 98 per cent employment rate after completion.
There was a 24 per cent increase in high school welding program interest following CWB Foundation youth programming.
Camps saw 27 per cent of participants self-identifying as female, while 16 per cent identified as Indigenous.
The annual report also showcases powerful stories from the field, testimonials and case studies that show our impact in action.
As the demand for skilled trades continues to grow in sectors like clean energy, infrastructure, marine, and advanced manufacturing, the CWB Foundation's strategic alignment with industry, government, and education remains essential. New efforts to standardize welding and materials joining education, expand virtual welding simulator access, and enhance post-secondary research partnerships position the CWB Foundation as a national leader in workforce development.
To explore the full report and learn more about how the CWB Foundation is building a stronger, safer, and more inclusive future through welding and materials joining education, visit: https://www.cwbweldingfoundation.org/impact-reports
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘Authentic and enriching' tourism showcase
People seeking tourism opportunities in Manitoba have a new resource. Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and The Forks North Portage Partnership celebrated the grand opening on Friday of Explore Indigenous, a new space that aims to build awareness and understanding of Indigenous-led tourism experiences in the keystone province. Located at The Forks Market, the downtown Winnipeg discovery centre offers self-guided learning tools and interpretative displays that introduce visitors to Indigenous Tourism Manitoba's network of operators — who they are, where they're located and what types of experiences they offer. BROOK JONES/FREE PRESS Indigenous Tourism Manitoba CEO Holly Spence in the new tourism discovery space Explore Indigenous at The Forks Market in Winnipeg on Friday. A curated product showcase features artisans who have been accredited through the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada's Original Original program, which highlights businesses and experiences that are at least 51 per cent Indigenous-owned. Rotating displays and videos help tell the stories of Indigenous tourism operators in Manitoba and staff are on hand to answer questions. The space is also home to Turtle Tours, a new Indigenous-owned and led tourism company that offers guided walking tours and cultural experiences that invite participants to learn about the land, hear the stories that have shaped Indigenous Peoples and connect with their stories. 'Indigenous tourism plays a vital role in sharing culture, history and community perspectives in a way that's both authentic and enriching,' said Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism Nellie Kennedy. She added in 2023, Indigenous tourism contributed nearly $91 million to Manitoba's GDP, supported more than 1,600 full-time equivalent jobs and generated $39 million in potential tax revenue. 'These numbers speak to not only (Indigenous tourism's) economic strength but also to the growing interest in experiences that are led by Indigenous communities and grounded in their stories,' Kennedy said. 'Indigenous tourism is a cornerstone of our tourism sector.' Even with all the work that's been done to grow Indigenous tourism in recent years, many people are still unaware of who operators are and where to find them, said Holly Spence, CEO of Indigenous Tourism Manitoba. 'Our hope is by creating this (Explore Indigenous) awareness and creating an avenue for consumers to book experiences that it'll drive business (and) create economic development, jobs and revenue for our industry and for our Indigenous people from Manitoba,' Spence said. Ashley Smith had that same goal in mind when she started Turtle Tours. The 42-year-old entrepreneur also owns and operates Turtle Village, a tourist destination in Riding Mountain National Park in southwest Manitoba. She runs the businesses with her husband, Jason, and their three children, Jaylee, Keeson and Dawnjae. Turtle Tours' first offering is a one-hour walking tour of The Forks that includes stops at long-established landmarks like the Oodena Celebration Circle and new features like the Woven Relations garden. 'We really notice that people don't know the actual history here of Winnipeg and The Forks and the importance of it, pre- and post-contact,' Smith said. 'So, that's the foundation that we want to lay.' Celebrating the grand opening of the discovery centre and Turtle Tours was surreal, Smith said, adding she felt honoured to be present with Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and other operators from the province. Alongside the opening of the space, Indigenous Tourism Manitoba launched its new guidebook, Adventure to Understanding, which highlights Original Original-accredited operators across the province. Explore Indigenous is now open Fridays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Spence said, adding the centre's operating hours will expand 'in the near future.' Travel Manitoba is proud to support the initiative, said Angela Cassie, chief operating officer. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'When we take time to listen to — and learn from — Indigenous voices, and work to provide space to grow and develop Indigenous tourism, we're also supporting economic reconciliation, cultural revitalization and a stronger, more inclusive tourism industry for all,' Cassie said. The presence of Explore Indigenous is an important part of The Forks' commitment to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone, said Jessica Floresco, chief operating officer of The Forks North Portage Partnership. Indigenous Tourism Manitoba and Turtle Tours are creating opportunities for visitors to engage and learn, Floresco added. 'These experiences highlight stories that are often left untold and we believe they are essential in moving forward together in a good way,' she said. Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation plans 60 acres of economic expansion
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky's field of dreams is one step closer to reality. 'I call it that because I always drive past it and say it's going to be something one day,' he said, standing in front of a 60-acre soybean field on the northeast edge of Winnipeg. The goal is to turn it into 60 acres of residential, commercial and retail development. NICOLE BUFFIE / FREE PRESS Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon Bluesky on the East St. Paul farm field recently designated as reserve land. On Friday, Bluesky announced the parcel of land had been successfully transferred to the Manitoba First Nation from the Rural Municipality of East St. Paul, 16 years after it was initially purchased through a federal Treaty Land Entitlement claim. The land sits within the RM, on the boundary of the City of Winnipeg, east of Highway 59 and south of the Perimeter Highway. Bluesky is eyeing the area as the next opportunity for economic prosperity for Brokenhead and the areas it surrounds. 'We've already increased the land value around our main reserve with the developments that we have there,' the chief said. 'The work that we're going to be doing on these lands doesn't just benefit First Nations people.' The transfer to reserve land is the first step in the site's redevelopment. Next will come consultations with surrounding landowners and community members from Brokenhead to see what is desired for the area. Affordable housing and retail are among the amenities expected to be built on the land, Bluesky said. The parcel is part of 480 acres previously purchased by the First Nation in the late 2000s. It was only recently was transferred to reserve status through the federal claim agreement, with a push by the provincial government through an order in council. Brokenhead also owns land in the RMs of Lac du Bonnet, Alexander and East St. Paul, and within Winnipeg (including the Westwood Village Inn and property on Nairn Avenue which is currently going through the reserve creation process). 'We're trying to fulfill our treaty land entitlement, which is an outstanding obligation from 1871 — our people were promised these lands,' Bluesky said. Federal Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs Rebecca Chartrand (Churchill—Keewatinook Aski) attended the ceremony on behalf of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty. Chartrand called the transferred land a foundation for community prosperity. 'These new lands open doors, they bring opportunity through jobs, investment and thriving business that lift up entire communities.' NICOLE BUFFIE / FREE PRESS Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said urban reserves are a testament to the economic sovereignty of First Nations communities and looks forward to seeing more urban First Nations development. Since 2006, more than one million acres across Canada have been transferred to reserves, Chartrand added. In Manitoba, about 10 other First Nations are eyeing transfers through Treaty Land Entitlement claims, which Chartrand said she would help advocate for. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Bluesky compared the 60-acre parcel to the 160-acre Naawi-Oodena site along a portion of Kenaston Boulevard in south Winnipeg. The former Canadian Armed Forces land is jointly owned by the seven Treaty 1 Nations (Brokenhead, Long Plain, Peguis, Roseau River, Sagkeeng, Sandy Bay and Swan Lake). Naawi-Oodena recently opened its first business at the site: a gas bar/convenience store. Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Kyra Wilson said urban reserves are a testament to the economic sovereignty of First Nations communities and she looks forward to seeing more such development. 'We are strong in our business, we're strong in our vision and it's about reclaiming that land and those spaces,' she said. Nicole BuffieMultimedia producer Nicole Buffie is a multimedia producer who reports for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College's Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom in 2023. Read more about Nicole. Every piece of reporting Nicole produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Cision Canada
9 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Lotto Max - A $65 million jackpot and an estimated 8 Maxmillions in the next draw Français
MONTRÉAL, July 5, 2025 /CNW/ - In the next Lotto Max draw, slated for Tuesday, July 8, the prize pool will be $73 million and include a $65 million jackpot and an estimated 8 Maxmillions. "A Lotto Max jackpot was just won in June. We're hoping that Lady Luck strikes again in Québec in Tuesday's draw, when the jackpot is $65 million," says Isabelle Jean, Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer of Lottery Games at Loto-Québec. Lotto Max continues to churn out winners in Québec Lotto Max players in Québec have won over $3.925 billion since its launch in 2009. In total, there have been 46 jackpot wins in the province, including 3 of $70,000,000—the largest jackpots ever won in Québec—in the February 25 and October 9, 2020, and June 7, 2022, draws. One $65,000,000 jackpot, four $60,000,000 jackpots, five $55,000,000 jackpots, and nine $50,000,000 jackpots have also been won in Quebec. In addition to these jackpot wins, Lotto Max players in Québec have also won a total of 247 Maxmillions prizes, each worth $1 million, and 151 shares of Maxmillions prizes. Draw results are available online at About Loto-Québec Loto-Québec has been delivering entertainment to Quebecers for over 50 years, and its operations benefit Québec as a whole. Last year, the corporation paid out almost $1.8 billion in prizes to winners across Québec. Major prize winners are listed on the Winners page in the Lotteries section of Read their stories. The responsible commercialization of lottery and gaming products is central to Loto-Québec's operations. The corporation has been granted the highest internationally recognized certification in responsible gaming by the World Lottery Association.
