Grants you can apply for · Federal program · Non-repayable contribution
Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program
Government of Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada
Taking applications?
Not taking applications
The official page says: “Current status: Closed”
Read from the official page on October 14, 2026. Confirm the deadline on the official page before you apply.
- Amount
- Up to $15M
- Cost share
- Not stated on the page
- Who can apply
- Businesses; Indigenous organizations and businesses; Municipalities; Non-profits and charities
- Where
- Anywhere in Canada
What it is
Funding for projects that build awareness of the trades as viable, good quality career, help equip individuals with the skills and supports they need to pursue a career in the skilled trades, or provide opportunities to explore the trades.
Up to $3,000,000 per year. Not accepting applications
Description from ESDC funding programs, the funder’s own list of programs. The Government of Canada’s Business Benefits Finder (list of July 17, 2025) doesn’t include it.
What applicants actually got
From the federal records of every agreement signed under this program. Advertised: up to $15m.
- Agreements, last 12 months
- 0
- starting Oct 2025 or later
- Typical award
- —
- the middle half, since Oct 2023
- Median award
- —
- 0 agreements since Oct 2023
- All agreements
- 15
- $111M
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026. Filed as “CAS - Skilled Trades Awareness & Readiness” (Employment and Social Development Canada, 12), “Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program” (Employment and Social Development Canada, 3).
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program, all years.
Who got it in your province
Open a province to see the organizations there with the most funding under this program, all years.
Ontario10 agreements · $93.5M
British Columbia1 agreements · $6M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Construction Association | 1 | $6M |
Alberta1 agreements · $4.2M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| The Society for Selections: A Career Support Services | 1 | $4.2M |
New Brunswick1 agreements · $3.1M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Joint Economic Development Initiative Inc. | 1 | $3.1M |
Northwest Territories1 agreements · $2.4M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| K'asho Got'ine Housing Society | 1 | $2.4M |
Manitoba1 agreements · $1.4M
| Recipient | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Apprenticeship Manitoba | 1 | $1.4M |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2022 | Skills/Competences Canada | Engaging youth in the skilled trades through competitions and career explorationContribution | $29,126,560 |
| Apr 2022 | Young Women's Christian Association of Greater Toronto | STAR 4-Women (Careers, Opportunities, Readiness, Engagement)Contribution | $1,569,424 |
| Apr 2022 | British Columbia Construction Association | Building Builders - A Mentorship Program for BC's Construction IndustryContribution | $6,041,880 |
| Apr 2022 | Apprenticeship Manitoba | Manitoba Career in Trades Awareness ProgramContribution | $1,418,000 |
| Mar 2022 | K'asho Got'ine Housing Society | Strengthening the Construction Sector in the SahtúContribution | $2,380,216 |
| Mar 2022 | Temiskaming Native Women's Support Group | Pathways to Resilience: Intro to Emerging and Established Skilled Trades for Indigenous WomenContribution | $11,000,000 |
| Mar 2022 | Joint Economic Development Initiative Inc. | Indigenous Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Project (ISTAR)Contribution | $3,129,453 |
| Feb 2022 | Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium of Canada | Skilled Trades for Youth in Advanced ManufacturingContribution | $6,232,781 |
| Feb 2022 | The Society for Selections: A Career Support Services | Get Ready in Trades (GRiT)Contribution | $4,211,844 |
| Jan 2022 | 9900748 Canada Inc. | Trades & Diversity Training ProgramContribution | $6,114,323 |
| Nov 2020 | (A.C.C.E.S.) Accessible Community Counselling and Employment Services | Contribution | $2,243,454 |
| Oct 2020 | Skills/Compétences Canada Corporation | Youth Competing to Win in the Skilled Trades (Regional)Contribution | $28,747,273 |
| Mar 2020 | Build a Dream to Empower Women | Career Exploration ExpansionContribution | $1,274,309 |
| Sep 2019 | Colleges and Institutes Canada | Pre-Apprenticeship Programming in Canadian Colleges and InstitutesContribution | $2,613,602 |
| Aug 2019 | The Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning | Level Up: Build a career in the Skilled TradesContribution | $4,567,350 |
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | $7.2M |
| 2020 | 3 | $32.3M |
| 2022 | 10 | $71.2M |
The full record: CAS - Skilled Trades Awareness & Readiness, Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program.
More programs: all provinces.