Building Up

Last Friday, we officially opened the doors to Building Up’s new training facility.

This moment has been years in the making. Our new 18,000 sq. ft. home gives us the space to train more people, deepen the supports available to trainees and alumni and continue creating new pathways into meaningful careers in construction.

It also gives us something we’ve never really had before: room to imagine what our social enterprise can become.

With expanded workshops and purpose-built space, we can grow existing services and take on new kinds of work that simply weren’t possible in our previous facilities. From home energy solutions to building modular cabins, this space creates new opportunities to grow our business, create more hands-on training and connect more people to real construction experience.

But what made Friday especially meaningful was getting to celebrate it with so many of the people who helped us get here.

Our team welcomed funders, government representatives, union and industry partners, employers, community organizations and long-time friends of Building Up into the space to see firsthand what this next chapter will make possible.

And fittingly, much of the facility they toured was built by Building Up trainees and alumni themselves.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and to the incredible Building Up team whose work every day gave us so much to celebrate.

We’ve spent the last 12 years building Building Up. Now, we have a home designed for where we’re going next.

.

From trainee to teammate. 🛠️

When Wisdom first joined Building Up, he knew he had a passion for construction, but he didn’t know exactly where that passion would take him.

“I was still trying to figure out exactly which direction I wanted to take in the construction industry. I knew for a fact that I had a passion for construction, but I didn’t know which trade I wanted to choose.”

At the time, Wisdom was also working toward his university degree, which he expects to complete in just a few months. While education has always been important to him, he knew he wanted something else alongside it: practical skills, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to learn directly from people working in the industry.

That brought him to Building Up.

Wisdom still remembers walking into his Building Up interview and seeing more than 200 people there.

“I remember wondering if I would even have a chance. I stayed until the end, completed my interview, and left without expecting to hear back. To my greatest surprise, I received a call and was accepted into the program.”

He initially hoped to pursue HVAC, building on his previous experience with A/C servicing. When that opportunity wasn’t immediately available, he made the decision to stay open to other possibilities.

Through in-class training and placements on different construction sites, Wisdom worked alongside professionals from multiple trades, developing practical skills and gaining a broader understanding of the industry.

“Not being able to get into HVAC right away was also a challenge. I learned that sometimes opportunities don’t happen exactly when you expect them to. Instead of giving up, I stayed open to other opportunities and continued learning.”

That experience also changed the way Wisdom thought about building a career.

“You don’t always have to have your entire career figured out from the beginning. Sometimes you discover your path by trying different things, learning from others, and being willing to take opportunities when they come.”

Today, Wisdom’s path has brought him back to Building Up in a new way.

When Building Up moved into its new office building and an opportunity opened for Facilities, Maintenance & Support Trainees, Wisdom’s previous background in facilities management, combined with the construction experience he had gained through the program, made the role a natural next step.

Now, he’s continuing to develop his technical and hands-on skills while learning more about facilities maintenance and building operations.

“I started with the organization not knowing exactly which trade I would pursue, and now I’ve come to a point where I’m being given an opportunity to continue learning and building my career with the same organization that gave me my start.”

For Wisdom, there’s still plenty ahead to discover, and that’s part of the journey.

“Looking at where I am now, I feel like the experiences and opportunities I’ve had are gradually taking me in a better direction. I’m grateful to Building Up for giving me the opportunity to learn, gain experience, and now continue growing with the organization. I’m excited about this next chapter and what the future holds.”

We’re excited to have Wisdom continuing his journey with us, and even more excited to see where he takes it next. 💙

✨ Looking back, building forward. ✨

On August 22, our Alumni joined the TCBN NextGen Retreat at the Black Creek Village for a day all about connection, growth, and imagining what comes next. 🦺🌱

With the theme “A Journey Through Time & Place,” the retreat brought together the next generation of skilled trades professionals to explore professional brand building, mentorship, and the power of creating meaningful connections throughout their careers.

For us, one of the best parts was seeing our Alumni shine. 💙 Watching them connect with like-minded professionals, grow their networks, share their experiences, and proudly represent Building Up was a reminder of how much can happen after graduation.

Building a career in the trades is about more than learning the tools of the trade. It’s about finding mentors, building community, creating opportunities, and continuing to grow.

A huge thank you to Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) for creating a space where the next generation can learn from the past, invest in themselves today, and build toward their future. 🙌🏽

Our Alumni are going places, and we’re proud to be part of the journey. 🏗️✨

🚧 Employer Myth vs. Reality #3

❌ MYTH: New workers don’t understand what’s expected on a construction site.

✅ REALITY: Every construction site has its own culture, expectations and ways of working. Understanding how to show up ready to learn, contribute and work safely is an important first step.

At Building Up, we prepare trainees for the realities of the workplace by focusing on the habits and skills that help new workers succeed on site:

🦺 Safety awareness
💬 Communicating with supervisors and coworkers
⏰ Showing up prepared and on time
🙋 Asking questions when support is needed
📈 Receiving feedback and putting it into practice

Our graduates are still learning and building their skills, but they understand that success on site isn’t just about what you already know. It’s also about your mindset, reliability and willingness to learn.

Looking for new talent for your team? Let’s build your workforce together.

Connect with Aliza, our Employer Partnerships Manager, at [email protected].

🎓 Cohort 73, look how far you’ve come. 💛

Eight weeks ago, you walked into the classroom ready to learn. Since then, you’ve built new skills, taken on new challenges, supported one another, and shown us what resilience really looks like.

And you did it all during a time of change. As we settled into our new Training Centre, you adapted right alongside us. You stayed flexible, kept showing up, and made this new space your own. In many ways, Cohort 73 will always be part of the story of this new chapter at Building Up.

Now, after eight weeks in the classroom, it’s time for the next challenge: eight weeks on-site, putting everything you’ve learned into practice. 🛠️

Take a moment to recognize how far you’ve already come. The confidence, knowledge, skills, and relationships you’ve built didn’t happen overnight. You earned them, one day at a time.

We’re incredibly proud of you, Cohort 73. Go show the industry what you’re capable of.

The classroom chapter may be over, but your journey in the trades is just beginning. 🚧💪

Congratulations, Cohort 73! 🎉

Building stronger homes. Building stronger futures. 🏠🔧

We're excited to partner with Hamilton City Housing to give our trainees hands-on experience while making a real impact in the community.

This crew is conducting unit audits, carefully documenting everything that needs attention before returning to complete the repairs. From plumbing fixtures and leaks to holes in the walls and other maintenance issues, every detail helps create safer, better homes for residents while giving trainees valuable real-world experience.

Leading the team is Anthonia, alongside trainees Ahmed, Johan, Maiwand, Onyeka, Stella, and Wurie, who are building their technical skills one unit at a time.

This is what workforce development looks like: learning by doing, serving the community, and creating pathways to meaningful careers in the skilled trades.

Thank you to Hamilton City Housing for investing in both housing quality and the next generation of skilled trades professionals. 💙

Meet Cyera, one of the incredible people behind Building Up. 💙

For nearly three years, Cyera has been helping trainees build confidence, overcome challenges, and reach goals they once thought were out of reach.

When asked what drew her to Building Up, her answer was simple:
"My passion for helping others reach their goals, seeing them grow and succeed, and knowing I was able to help them with that is what appealed to me and kept me here."

She also loves that every day brings something new.

"Building Up is not just one thing. As a non-profit and social enterprise, we're constantly learning, pivoting, and growing. I'm always working with different people from different walks of life, learning about their stories and building relationships by sharing my own."

What means the most to Cyera is that Building Up's impact doesn't stop after 16 weeks.

"Supporting someone through the ebbs and flows of real world life is something that means a lot to me."

Over the years, she's watched trainees transform, from learning how to use a power tool or update a resume, to learning how to drive, securing union careers, becoming financially stable, and even starting or growing their families.

As Cyera puts it:
"I feel a part of so many people's stories by simply showing up to work."

Thank you, Cyera, for your compassion, dedication, and unwavering commitment to helping our trainees build brighter futures. We're so grateful to have you as part of the Building Up team. 💙

🚧 Myth Buster: "Hiring someone new to construction is too much of a risk."

✅ Reality: Every skilled tradesperson started somewhere.

For many employers, the biggest question isn't whether someone has years of experience. It's whether they have the attitude, reliability, and willingness to learn that will help them succeed.

At Building Up, we connect employers with candidates who have already demonstrated their commitment to building a career in the skilled trades. Through opportunities like our two-week job trials, employers can see how a candidate fits with their team while graduates gain valuable, hands-on experience in a real workplace.

The next great addition to your team could be someone looking for their first opportunity.

Interested in hiring? Connect with Aliza directly at [email protected] to learn how Building Up can help you find motivated, job-ready talent.

Did you know construction contracts can create more than buildings?

Through social procurement, organizations can use their purchasing power to create added community benefit alongside the work being delivered.

For Building Up, that means construction and retrofit projects can also become opportunities for paid training, hands-on experience and pathways into the skilled trades.

When partners choose to work with social enterprises, project investments can go further — supporting better buildings, stronger communities and more inclusive access to meaningful careers.

That’s the power of social procurement.

Once Building Up, always Building Up. 💙

This July, we welcomed alumni back for our annual Alumni Picnic. An afternoon filled with laughter, great food, soccer, and meaningful conversations.

Seeing familiar faces reconnect, meeting new alumni, and celebrating the relationships built through Building Up is a reminder that our community extends far beyond graduation. It's about the people, the support, and the lifelong connections we continue to build together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this year's picnic so special. We can't wait to do it again!