A person using a DEWALT handheld power sander to smooth a wooden surface in a room under construction. A yellow ladder and construction materials are visible in the background.

POWERING THE TRADES IN CANADA

Canada is facing a skilled trades gap, and DEWALT is committed to developing the next generation of Canadian tradespeople.

THE POWER OF SUPPORT

From tools to time, we support pros on the toughest jobsites. Here’s how DEWALT is fortifying the future of the trades in Canada through initiatives that support and grow skills for tradespeople.

A DEWALT circular saw placed on a wooden board at a construction site, with a worker wearing a hard hat in the background assembling wooden structures.

DEWALT TRADES SCHOLARSHIP

DEWALT is committed to empowering the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

A total of 8, $5,000 USD DEWALT Trades Scholarships are available to Canadians.

2025 CANADIAN SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT

The 2025 DEWALT Trades Scholarship program awarded $200,000 in scholarships to 40 students across the United States and Canada.

The Canadian winners represent 5 students across three provinces. The students are pursuing different trade fields including Construction, Mechanics, Plumbing and Electrical.
 

A worker wearing a blue hard hat and high-visibility vest is standing on an orange ladder while working on an electrical box attached to a wooden utility pole in an outdoor construction area surrounded by trees and mountains.

Alexa Hunter – Construction
British Columbia

After her completion of the Women In Trades program at Okanagan College, Alexa Hunter discovered a passion to work in the trades. The program allowed her to try out several different trades to find the one that was the right fit for her. Her affinity for attention to detail and problem solving led her to choose the electrical field. This has allowed her to see the entire picture of how a residential or commercial building functions with power. Learning new skills like safe job site practices, working with tools, and working alongside other trades, have given her strong passion for hard work as she works towards her goal of becoming a red seal electrician. 

A person wearing brown overalls and a cap is standing in front of a large green tractor inside a barn. To the left of the tractor is a blue agricultural trailer with the word 'Penta' and a red maple leaf logo. The person's face is blurred.

Darren Nagel – Mechanics
Ontario

Darren Nagel has lived all his life on a dairy farm which now has 160 cows and cash crop in 1200 acres. He has always had a passion for fixing broken things and, being from a farm, he knows about equipment and how it works. Now he wants know more and be able to fix all kinds of equipment. He lives in a very rural area with a lot of farms and construction companies and being able to fix heavy equipment would benefit lots of people in the area. Once he finishes at Cambrian college, Darren hopes to gain experience with an apprenticeship in a mine fixing machinery because there is a demand for skilled workers there. Going to Cambrian college, he hopes to complete the in-school part of an apprenticeship program. He says the DEWALT Trades Scholarship will be a huge help in paying his college tuition, enabling him to concentrate on studying instead of getting multiple jobs.

Person wearing a blue and yellow reflective safety work suit and gloves, standing at a workstation with documents and tools. The person's face is obscured. The suit displays CAT 2 safety markings and an emergency badge.

Jessie Goban – Construction  
British Columbia

Jessie’s focus is on achieving the Electrical Construction Red Seal and currently is completing electrical apprenticeship in British Columbia. Jessie has gained experience and developed skills over the past three years working on the Royal Inland Hospital Renovation Project, the Fort St. John, BC Site C Hydro Dam Project, and in Williams Lake, BC on the Cariboo Memorial Hospital addition. Jessie expects to complete the Red Seal certification and gain further experience across institutional and industrial projects as well as gaining residential experience, with the long-term objective of becoming a master electrician.

A person wearing glasses and a patterned shirt is shown with their face obscured by a brown box. The background is dark and out of focus.

Rachel Phelan – Construction/Plumbing
Ontario

Rachel Phelan sees herself starting her career with an apprenticeship where she can learn the skills needed to succeed and grow her skill set as a plumber. Ultimately, she wants to start her own business. The DEWALT Trades Scholarship will make a huge difference in helping her reach these goals by relieving financial stress and allowing her to focus on learning the skills needed for a career in the plumbing trade.

A person wearing a black jacket and gloves is using a yellow DEWALT power tool to work under the hood of a vehicle inside a garage. The person's face is blurred for privacy.

Vishav Pal – Construction/Electrical
British Columbia

Vishav Pal has always been interested in hands-on work and learning practical skills, which led to his choice of the electrical trade. He enjoys working with tools, solving problems, and understanding how electrical systems work in buildings. Working as an Automobile Technician helped him develop strong work habits, technical skills, how to work safely, and pay attention to details. He also gained experience working as part of a team and providing good service to customers. After graduation, he plans to be fully committed to building a long-term career as an electrician in the electrical construction industry with an immediate goal to complete his apprenticeship and earn his license. From there, he wants to eventually move into a leadership position or start his own electrical business. Vishnav says it’s his skilled trades education is the foundation that will make this possible.

A person standing next to a stack of boxed DEWALT tools, partially covered by black plastic, in an indoor setting. There is a DEWALT brand sign and an NBCC CollegeWorks banner nearby, indicating a collaboration or event involving workforce development.

GROW THE TRADES GRANT

Through the Grow the Trades grant program, DEWALT provides over $650,000 in donations and tool grants to trade schools from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, ensuring young tradespeople have the skills Canada needs for the future.

A person wearing a black helmet and protective gear is kneeling on the floor, using a DEWALT cordless power drill to fasten a screw into a wooden frame. Other people in work attire and safety gear are visible in the background in a construction environment.

SKILLED TRADES TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS

Students should be trained on tools used on job sites. That is why DEWALT has partnered with Institutions like Humber Polytechnic, Conestoga College, Thompson River University, The National Electrical Trade Council, and more to provide tools, scholarships, and bursaries to ensure that Canada’s young tradespeople have the training and tools they need for their future success.

PROMOTING THE TRADES TO CANADIAN YOUTH

A person wearing protective gear measures a piece of wood with a tape measure at a workbench. Several DEWALT power tools are visible in the foreground, and other woodworking materials and people are seen in the background.

SKILLS CANADA NATIONAL COMPETITION

As an Official Sponsor of the Skills Canada National Competition, DEWALT supplies 14 competition areas with the tools used to compete on the national stage.

Stacks of DEWALT power tool boxes, including FLEXVOLT brushless products, are displayed on pallets in an indoor workshop or warehouse setting. Several carpentry workstations and people are visible in the background.

DEWALT TOOL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM

The tools used during the Skills Canada National Competition are donated to six eligible schools in the province where the competition is held.

APPLY FOR A 2024 GRANT


There’s so much more in store to help grow the trades.

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