Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB)
Introduction: Answering the Call of a Labour Market in Need
The skilled trades sector is facing a critical shortage of workers across Ontario and Canada as 700,000 tradespeople are set to retire in the next five years. This means the opportunities for high-wage careers for young people are the best they have been in generations.
That’s why in 2023, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) officially launched the St. Anne Catholic Skilled Trades Academy and Learning Centre (STALC)—a state-of-the-art training facility dedicated to preparing high school students for direct entry into the trades.
The Centre represents the next chapter in a journey that began nearly a decade ago with a masonry program at F.J. Brennan Catholic High School. That pilot was a success, and soon WECDSB expanded the program to add electrical, plumbing, carpentry, and welding trades.
Solution: A Bridge Between Education and Industry
Located in Tecumseh at the former St. Anne Catholic High School, STALC now serves approximately 200 students in grades 10 through 12. The centre offers modern classrooms and fully equipped shops, along with a computer-aided design lab and simulation space where students can explore non-traditional trades.
But what makes this initiative stand out isn’t just the facilities—it’s the partnerships.
Through close collaboration with local businesses, unions, and trade associations, WECDSB designed a program that aligns student learning with real-world job opportunities. These partners help the board shape the program, providing funding, in-kind donations, and co-op placements that lead directly to apprenticeship hours.
“We wanted to create a bridge between students looking to enter the trades and employers looking to build their workforce with young talent,” said Emelda Byrne, Director of Education. “Our skilled trades academies have accomplished that goal by providing students with the hands-on skills and knowledge they need to get a head start on their careers.”
Results: Confidence, Maturity, and Employment
That bridge is working. Since 2022, 98 percent of academy students have graduated as registered apprentices. The vast majority are now employed in their chosen trades.
Teachers have noted marked improvements in students' maturity and academic performance after their co-op placements. Guidance counsellors, now better informed through hands-on orientation visits to the centre, are directing more students toward trades programs. And parents are seeing firsthand the motivation and confidence their children are gaining from learning in a real-world environment.
Local unions have also taken notice. Thanks to the strong preparation students receive, three local skilled trades unions that had never accepted co-op students before—IBEW Local 773, BAC Local 6, and UA Local 527—now welcome them with open arms.
“Employers have been pleasantly surprised by how job-ready our students are,” said Byrne.
WECDSB’s skilled trades academies are more than just a response to a labour shortage. They are a proactive, student-centred model for economic resilience, workforce development, and educational innovation.
In a world where college and university have long dominated the postsecondary conversation, WECDSB has helped reframe the trades as not just an alternative—but an equal and exciting first choice.