Ontario Helping Connect More Students With Rewarding Careers in the Skilled Trades

The Ontario government is launching the annual Level Up! career fairs for a fifth year to introduce students, educators and jobseekers to in-demand careers. Through multi‑day events planned in 12 communities across the province this upcoming year, the 2026 fairs are expected to reach more than 60,000 people and will include open house sessions and interactive exhibitions that will inspire the next generation of workers to build the homes, highways, hospitals, schools and critical infrastructure that the province needs.

“To deliver on our government’s historic $236 billion infrastructure plan, Ontario will need an additional 400,000 workers in the skilled trades over the next decade,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to invest in innovative programs that introduce students and young people to the skills they need to land in-demand careers and bigger paycheques.”

The Level Up! career fairs will showcase Ontario’s 144 skilled trades through interactive exhibits, hands‑on demonstrations and conversations with employers, unions and training providers. Designed primarily for students in Grades 7 to 12, the fairs will also welcome parents, guardians, educators and jobseekers interested in learning more about local apprenticeship and training opportunities.

The Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs will take place across 12 communities over 29 days between September 23 and December 10, 2026:

• Cobourg — September 23–24
• Kingston — September 29–30
• Barrie — October 6–7
• Timmins — October 14–15
• Thunder Bay — October 21–22
• Sudbury — October 28–29
• Hamilton — November 3–5
• Windsor — November 11–12
• London — November 17–19
• Ottawa — November 24–26
• Oshawa — December 1–3
• Mississauga — December 8–10

Each fair includes daytime sessions for students attending with their schools, followed by a free community open house open to the public, aimed at providing an opportunity for parents and guardians to learn more about the skilled trades.

“Our government is focused on making sure Ontario workers have the skills, resources and opportunities they need to succeed,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “The Level Up! career fairs continue to open more doors for students and jobseekers to explore careers in the skilled trades, connect directly with employers and see firsthand the opportunities available to them.”

As Ontario continues to grow, so does the demand for skilled trades workers, with roughly one in three tradespeople nearing retirement and hundreds of thousands of additional workers needed over the next decade. To meet this demand, Ontario is aiming to engage 500,000 youth in the skilled trades by 2030 through initiatives like Level Up! and the Trade and Tech Trucks program.

Level Up! is part of the government’s ongoing plan to protect Ontario by building a highly skilled workforce ready to meet growing demand and keep Ontario resilient into the future. Through its $236 billion plan to build, the government is delivering critical infrastructure projects that communities rely on while connecting more people to stable, good-paying careers.

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