Welding Program

FPDI partnered with the Piping Industry Technical College of Manitoba (PITC) and the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) to deliver a two-and-a-half-year Indigenous Welding Program. The program was a National Apprenticeship Consortium Pilot which started in 2018 and ended September, 2021.

The program began with a series of three, one-week welding camps funded by Enbridge. 45 individuals took part in the welding camps. These camps served as a recruitment strategy to enable the selection of participants who showed an aptitude and interest in welding. 13 participants were selected for further training. The recruitment method was recognized as a national best practice. “This approach is considered best practice within the sector and may help Indigenous participants build credibility with employers over the long-term. It will also have a positive impact on retention by reducing the likelihood that participants leave the program because of disinterest or discovering they do not like the trade.”