Good evening, Mr. Chair.
As introduced, I'm Paul Bury, a director with Helmets to Hardhats Canada. I'm joined this evening by my co-worker, Mr. Normand Trépanier.
I'd like to thank you and the members of this committee for the opportunity to talk with you this evening about the Helmets to Hardhats program and the benefits it offers to Canadian Armed Forces veterans, serving reservists, military spouses, dependents, members of the Canadian cadet organizations aged 16 to 19, and now resettled Afghan interpreters who worked with the Canadian Armed Forces when it was deployed to Afghanistan.
Helmets to Hardhats is a national non-profit organization funded by the unionized construction industry and staffed by both military veterans and industry representatives. Helmets to Hardhats also receives periodic federal or provincial government funding for specific veteran employment initiatives. Specifically, Helmets to Hardhats has received funding through the veteran and family well-being fund that has allowed us to expand our presence in Atlantic Canada and create a specific initiative for women and LGBTQ2+ veterans. We are extremely grateful for this funding and we look forward to further opportunities through Veterans Affairs Canada.
Affiliated with the 14 Canadian building trades unions representing over 60 occupations, H2H focuses on assisting armed forces veterans, serving reservists and our other select clients in finding rewarding civilian career opportunities in the building and construction industries across Canada. Networked across the country, H2H has deep connections with construction trade union locals and their affiliated contractors. H2H connects registered participants with apprenticeship and employment opportunities in Canada's construction industries. The apprenticeship programs provide the skills training needed to achieve journeyman and Red Seal qualifications across various occupations.
H2H provides professional and personalized services to registered participants by guiding registered members as they transition to a new career and by assisting employers in their search for potential employees. Since its inception in 2012, Helmets to Hardhats has referred over 2,300 service members to well-paying second careers in the skilled trades. We are in receipt of many testimonials that testify to a significant and positive effect on those veterans, their families and the community.
H2H is uniquely positioned within Canada to help in the transition of Canadian Armed Forces veterans and serving reservists to these careers in the skilled trades. We work closely with transitioning personnel to help reduce the stress of their transition by offering job information, apprenticeship placement referrals and employment contacts across Canada. Additionally, we work closely with local unions to ensure that women, indigenous and racialized veterans are prioritized as part of this group and receive the benefits and services that H2H offers.
The Canadian construction industry has an aging workforce, and in the coming decade it will lose a significant percentage of its skilled workers to retirement. To fill the vacancies left by the retiring baby boomers and meet the demands of the anticipated growth, the industry needs to recruit and train new workers. Canada's veterans and serving reservists are seen as highly skilled and desirable for occupations in the trades. H2H is able to open avenues to employment for Canada's veterans and offer solutions to Canadian contractors and construction employers by helping to fill the vacancies in the trades.
Mr. Chair, I'd like to hand the floor to my colleague, Mr. Trépanier, for a couple of minutes for his comments.
Thank you.