Good morning. I'd like to thank you, Mr. Chair, and the members of this committee for the opportunity to speak with you today about veterans' transition issues. As a veteran myself, I know how important the committee's work is, and I applaud you all for your efforts. Like many veterans, I look forward to the results of the committee's work and the various impacts it will have across the veteran community.
Today I'm speaking on behalf of Helmets to Hardhats, or H2H Canada. H2H is a national non-profit organization funded in part by the construction industry, supported by government and staffed by both military and industry veterans. H2H focuses on assisting armed forces veterans, serving reservists and members of the Canadian cadet organizations in finding rewarding civilian career opportunities in Canada's unionized building and construction industry.
Networked across the country, H2H has deep connections with trade union locals and their affiliated contractors. H2H connects registered participants with apprenticeship and employment opportunities in Canada's building trades. Skilled trades apprenticeship programs provide veterans with the training and qualifications needed to achieve journeyperson status in over 60 occupations.
H2H provides professional and personalized services to registered participants by guiding military members as they transition to a new career and by assisting unions and employers in their search for potential employees. H2H opens doors for union memberships and benefits, including training and employment mobility across Canada.
When I appeared in front of this committee a little over a year ago, I spoke in general terms about the H2H program and the opportunities provided to Canada's veteran and military-connected community. I also discussed how our services are increasingly being sought out by veterans, including women, indigenous and other under-represented veterans. I'd like to assure the committee that this remains the case, with H2H continuing to see incremental positive demand for our services. In 2023, H2H referred 365 veterans to skilled trades apprenticeships with our building trades union partners all across the country.
Helmets to Hardhats continues to update its services to remain relevant and to ensure that we serve the veteran community in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Through a grant from the Government of Ontario, we've been able to remove barriers to occupational success for veterans in Ontario by providing free safety training courses on such issues as working in confined spaces, working at heights and elevated work platforms. We're also able to provide free apprenticeship starter kits to our clients that include items such as hard hats, hearing and eye protection, safety boots and high-visibility clothing. These are all free of charge, saving the veteran approximately $500 each and ensuring that they are able to participate in the construction sector regardless of their personal financial situation. Ideally, we'll be able to roll out these initiatives across the rest of the country over the next few years. These initiatives coupled with the zero cost to veterans for our services remove barriers to occupational success.
We continue to hear testimonials from many participating veterans about the positive impact that the H2H program has had on their individual and family circumstances. Leaving the armed forces for a civilian career can be daunting for many veterans. Many H2H registered veterans contact us prior to leaving the armed forces. H2H works with them and the union locals to ensure they have career options and, ideally, a confirmed apprenticeship start date as they transition. Working with community-based, veteran-focused organizations such as H2H allows veterans and their families to make that transition to civilian life with significantly less stress regarding potential civilian employment.
H2H believes that community-based organizations such as ours can play a large part in complementing government veteran programs as we collectively help veterans transition to civilian life. Working with Canada's building trades unions, H2H will continue to provide timely and relevant services to Canada's veterans and military-connected individuals seeking a career in the construction and related industries.
That concludes my remarks. I look forward to the committee's questions. Thank you.