The Future of Millwrighting: Insights from Industry Leaders
The millwrighting trade is undergoing a transformative shift, driven by advancements in technology, evolving safety regulations, and a growing demand for skilled labour across Canada’s industrial sectors. Industry leaders recently came together to share their perspectives on the future of millwrighting, highlighting training, partnerships, and adaptability as key pillars for long-term success.
Education and continuous training remain central to ensuring millwrights can meet the demands of modern industries such as clean energy, manufacturing, automotive, and logistics. With the rise of precision machinery, automation, and mechatronics, highly skilled tradespeople are more in demand than ever. The Introduction to Millwrighting (ITM) program was cited as an important initiative for preparing new talent, providing real-world experience and pathways for underrepresented groups to build meaningful careers.
Collaboration is another cornerstone of the trade’s future. The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) has demonstrated leadership by building strong partnerships with contractors, industry stakeholders, and national associations like WaterPower Canada. These connections create opportunities for millwrights to remain the trusted choice for complex, high-stakes projects in emerging sectors such as nuclear, oil and gas, and infrastructure.
The industry is also adapting to the rise of mechatronics, robotics, and AI-driven maintenance systems. Millwright training programs must evolve to ensure members have the expertise to install, maintain, and troubleshoot these advanced technologies. Failure to do so risks allowing unskilled labour to fill these roles, making it critical for the MRC and its partners to position themselves as the leaders in this field.
Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Millwright Regional Council, underscored the urgency of these initiatives: “The future of our trade depends on a willingness to adapt and lead. By investing in training, building strong industry relationships, and embracing new technologies, we’re ensuring that union millwrights remain at the forefront of Canada’s most important projects.”
The future of millwrighting is not just about keeping pace with change; it’s about leading it. With the right focus on education, innovation, and collaboration, millwrights are poised to remain a vital part of Canada’s industrial success.
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
