Honouring Those Who Serve: The Helmets to Hardhats Millwright Scholarship
The Millwright Regional Council (MRC), and the Association of Millwrighting Contractors of Ontario (AMCO), are proud to launch the first Helmets to Hardhats Millwright Scholarship, an initiative created to support Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members as they advance their skills and prepare to start a new chapter in their professional lives.
This scholarship reflects a shared commitment to honouring the dedication, discipline, and professionalism demonstrated by those who serve our country. Military training fosters a level of focus, leadership, and technical understanding that aligns naturally with the work performed by millwrights across Canada’s industrial, manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The scholarship strengthens established pathways that help serving members and veterans begin a new chapter with stability, purpose, and a career built on their strengths.
The inaugural recipient, Matthew Steele, exemplifies this connection. A current member of 31 Service Battalion, Matthew is enrolled in Fanshawe College’s Mechanical Technician – Industrial Maintenance program at the St. Thomas/Elgin campus. His continued commitment to service while pursuing advanced mechanical training reflects the values that both the MRC and AMCO are proud to support.
“Our partnership with Helmets to Hardhats and AMCO represents more than a scholarship — it’s an investment in people who have served Canada with honour and professionalism. The discipline, leadership, and technical aptitude developed through military service align closely with the values of our trade. We are proud to support Matthew and others like him as they build meaningful, long-term careers in the millwright industry.” – Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Millwright Regional Council
To formally recognize Matthew’s achievement, Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) hosted a meet-and-greet at Fanshawe College’s St. Thomas/Elgin campus. Representatives from the Millwright Regional Council and AMCO, including Patrick Grix (MRC) and Jason Dieleman (AMCO), attended to congratulate Matthew and speak with him about his training, goals, and experience balancing military service with technical studies.
The event served as a meaningful moment of recognition – not only for Matthew, but for the collaborative effort behind the scholarship. It highlighted how labour, contractors, educational institutions, community leaders, and veteran support organizations can work together to acknowledge service, celebrate achievement, and reinforce the value that CAF members bring to the skilled trades.
While the primary focus of the scholarship is to support CAF members like Matthew, it also reflects a broader principle held by the Millwright Regional Council: that the skilled trades should remain accessible to individuals across our communities who demonstrate commitment, professionalism, and a desire to contribute. By supporting programs that recognize excellence and service, the MRC and AMCO continue to bring meaningful value to the regions they serve.
About the Millwright Regional Council
The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) is composed of twelve affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) across Canada. The UBC Millwrights are vital partners in diverse industries such as energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. ubcmillwrights.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Bredin
Director of Communications
Millwright Regional Council
416-757-5161
abredin@ubcmillwrights.ca
