Five years after it was founded, the CWB Welding Foundation has released “The First Five Years,” a report that charts the impact the foundation has had on the industry.
Among the achievements of note over that time:
- 178 Mind Over Metal welding camps
- +$14 million invested in welding education across Canada, with a focus on underrepresented groups, including women and indigenous youth.
- +$5.3 million in additional co-operative, matching and community investment
- +500 high school, college and university collaborations for training, capital improvements, consumables and safety equipment
- more than eight projects supported by the Applied Research funding program at Canadian colleges and universities
- +43 per cent of Canadian secondary schools received and utilized the Acorn curriculum
At the same time, the CWB Welding Foundation warns that the Canadian welding industry is experiencing a shortage of welding professionals, due in significant part to an aging Canadian population, a lack of young people being attracted to the skilled trades and the reduced focus on skilled trades training in secondary and post-secondary institutions. “If this shortage is not quickly addressed, it may inevitably lead to a crisis in the industry and its ability to be globally competitive in the future.”
Access the full report here.
