Ontario Construction Report staff writer
CAMBRIDGE – LiUNA Local 837 has completed a major expansion of its training and education campus in Cambridge, backed by more than $8.8 million in provincial funding aimed at strengthening Ontario’s skilled trades workforce.
The project, supported through the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream, will allow the union to train up to 5,000 additional apprentices and construction workers over the next five years.
“Training is the foundation of everything we build, and today, that foundation gets even stronger,” said Nick Ciccone, training director for LiUNA Local 837. “This is a direct investment in workers, in safety and in the future of our industry.”
The expansion included renovations to existing classroom space at the local’s facility on Industrial Road and the construction of a new 23,791-square-foot addition. The upgraded centre features an equipment lab and simulator space, including virtual reality technology designed to help apprentices train in realistic job-site conditions before entering the field.
Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini said investments in training infrastructure are critical to meeting the province’s construction needs.
“Canada has hospitals to build, highways to expand and homes that families desperately need, and none of it happens without our skilled tradespeople,” Piccini said. “By investing in modern, world-class training facilities like this, we are helping workers build rewarding careers while ensuring Ontario has the workforce it needs to deliver critical projects.”
The province has announced $128.7 million to date through the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream to expand and modernize training facilities. The program is intended to connect workers with in-demand careers while supporting employers and economic growth.
There were about 577,500 people employed in Ontario’s construction sector in 2025, and the province estimates nearly 400,000 skilled trades workers will be needed over the next decade to replace retiring workers and meet growing demand.
LiUNA Local 837, affiliated with the Labourers’ International Union of North America, represents construction labourers across Southwestern Ontario.