The Future of Skilled Labour: Attracting and Retaining the Next Generation of Union Millwrights
As industries across Canada modernize and major energy and industrial projects continue to grow, the need for highly trained millwrights is increasing. Ensuring that the next generation of skilled tradespeople is ready to meet that demand is a key focus for the Millwright Regional Council (MRC) and UBC Millwright Local 1151 Thunder Bay.
Local leadership in Thunder Bay is taking a proactive approach by strengthening training programs, maintaining high standards, and creating clear pathways for new workers entering the trade. By aligning training with industry needs and ensuring members remain at the top of their profession, the Local is helping position millwrights for long-term success in a competitive labour market.
A central part of this effort is anticipating where the industry is heading. As sectors such as hydroelectric power, manufacturing, and heavy industry continue to evolve, the technical requirements for millwrights are becoming increasingly specialized. Local 1151 is focused on ensuring its members are prepared through targeted training in areas such as advanced rigging, high-torque equipment, working at heights, and other critical skills required on modern job sites.
To support this goal, the Local is working to expand training delivered directly through the union hall. By bringing more instruction in-house, Local 1151 can ensure training meets the high standards expected of union millwrights while giving members consistent opportunities to upgrade and refresh their certifications.
Training at the local union hall also plays an important role in strengthening the culture of the trade. When members return for courses, they reconnect with colleagues, share experience, and reinforce the professional standards that define union millwrights.
Business Representative Christian Pepin says this approach helps maintain both the quality of the workforce and the sense of connection that defines the trade.
“Staying ahead of the market and understanding what skills will be required is the biggest component,” Pepin says. “Our goal is to bring more training back to the Local training centre so it can be delivered to our standard, while giving members the opportunity to keep building their skills and relationships within the trade.”
For the MRC, initiatives like those underway in Thunder Bay demonstrate how local leadership can help secure the future of the industry.
“Our Locals are doing the work that keeps this trade strong,” says MRC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Mark Beardsworth. “When we invest in training, standards, and the next generation of millwrights, we’re protecting the future of our members and the industries that rely on their expertise.”
Through continued investment in training and outreach, UBC Millwright Local 1151 Thunder Bay is helping ensure that the next generation of millwrights enters the workforce prepared, skilled, and ready to carry the trade forward. Learn more about becoming a union millwright or employing a Local 1151 millwright on your next project at www.ubcmillwrights.ca.
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
