Manitoba high school students try out trades training at Assiniboine

The Construction Association of Rural Manitoba (CARM) and Assiniboine College’s School of Trades joined forces once again on March 10 to host the annual Trades Summit. Held at the Len Evans Centre for Trades and Technology on the college’s North Hill campus, the event welcomes approximately 330 high school students from nearly twenty schools across Manitoba. Throughout the day, students took in an employer tradeshow and participated in hands-on "try-a-trade" sessions.

“It was fantastic to have students exploring our shops and labs,” said Jim DeGraeve, Acting Dean of the School of Trades. “Giving high school students the chance to try hands‑on activities that reflect real industry practices helps them see what a future in the trades can truly look like.”

As part of the event, students currently enrolled in pre-employment programs at Assiniboine also had the opportunity to bring their resumes and connect with potential employers at the tradeshow, bridging education and employment.

“This was an incredible chance for our students to move forward in their career journey,” DeGraeve said. “Meeting employers face‑to‑face gives them the platform to demonstrate their abilities, learn directly from industry leaders, and even open the door to job offers before their training is complete.”

The event brings together key industry partners who regularly collaborate with the college to create hands-on learning opportunities. For CARM, initiatives like this are crucial in addressing the growing demand for skilled trades professionals.

“Right now, industry partners across the sector are urgently seeking skilled trades professionals,” said Shawn Wood, Executive Director of CARM. “That’s why we’re proud to collaborate with the college on this summit—together, we’re showing students how their training links directly to real workforce needs and how promising a future in the trades truly is.”

Organizations like Junior Achievement Manitoba (JA Manitoba) and Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) also play a vital role in the event, contributing financial support to help make these opportunities available to students.

“JA Canada empowers young people to discover their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities,” said Joy Lorette, Rural Program Manager and Director of Volunteers for JA Manitoba. “Through accessible, inclusive programming, we help youth build essential, transferable skills—from work readiness to financial well‑being and entrepreneurship. As the development and delivery partner for World of Choices and the Skilled Trades Summits, JA has been proud to collaborate with RBC since 2022 and work closely with Colleges and Institutes of Canada—especially Assiniboine College—to design, pilot, and expand the Skilled Trades Summit experience.”

This collaboration highlights the importance of industry and educational partnerships in preparing students for successful careers in the trades.