In a previous blog, we made the case for putting as much effort, resources, and celebration into first-generation tradespeople as we do for first-generation university students. Both groups succeed by pushing against the odds, and they deserve all the support and recognition we can provide.

This blog is a little different from most we write. Today, I want to focus on a recent event at Trade Smart College and how it ties into first-generation tradespeople. This is partly a recognition of the work of some dedicated politicians, partly an insight into what we do at the college, but mostly, it’s about our students—many of whom are the first in their families, in at least a generation or two, to pursue a career in the trades.

Political Interest in First-Generation Tradespeople

There’s broad agreement that opportunities in the trades should be open to everyone. That’s why, for the last two decades, governments, trade associations, and industry leaders have spent millions promoting careers in the skilled trades. But awareness campaigns alone aren’t enough. What we need are targeted, strategic approaches to trades recruitment—and we saw some of that firsthand when three federal politicians visited Trade Smart College in February.

Lisa Hepfner, MP for Hamilton Mountain, has been a strong advocate for helping women enter the trades. We’ve partnered with her on two separate Women in the Trades events at the college, and she continues to be a compelling and effective voice in this space. While some women entering the trades have family backgrounds in the industry, most are the first women in their families to do so. MP Hepfner understands this and actively works to expand opportunities for women in skilled trades.

Chad Collins, MP for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, emphasized the importance of strengthening local trades opportunities. Even in Hamilton—a city with one of the country’s richest trades legacies—many potential first-generation tradespeople struggle to break into the field. He recognized that if we don’t broaden recruitment beyond the shrinking number of trades-oriented families, we risk a severe bottleneck in workforce development.

And last but certainly not least, the Honorable Steven McKinnon, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour, spoke to the national importance of building better pathways into the trades, especially for individuals without family history in the sector. The need for accessible trades pathways isn’t just an issue in Hamilton—it’s a challenge in every community across the country. Minister McKinnon highlighted the federal government’s efforts to create these pathways and ensure that skilled trades careers are viable for all Canadians.

The Students

For our students—many of whom are first-generation tradespeople—this visit was a rare and valuable opportunity. They participated in a 45-minute roundtable discussion with these three influential politicians, where they heard firsthand that their career choices weren’t just valid, but also critical to shaping the future of the trades. It was gratifying to see the clear alignment between our students’ motivations for joining the trades and the concerns raised by these political leaders.

During the second half of the discussion, our students asked well-researched, pointed questions about mental health, addictions, and apprenticeship support programs. They had spent hours scouring government websites, reviewing apprenticeship statistics, job market trends, and available support initiatives—then they used that knowledge to ask direct questions to their federal representatives. It was a lively and insightful exchange, leaving both sides impressed.

Most importantly, the politicians left with a strong message: there are excellent, motivated people ready to enter the trades from all backgrounds. Hopefully, this gives them additional momentum to push for more programming and support in Ottawa.

The College

Trade Smart College was founded to open pathways for people who don’t have family connections in the industry. As we often tell prospective students, if you have a family member or friend who can get you a job in the trades, you don’t need us. It’s not always the best sales pitch, but it’s the truth. The hardest part of becoming a journeyperson isn’t learning the skills—it’s getting that first job or apprenticeship.

Trades companies almost always prioritize hiring individuals with family connections or prior work experience.Life as an apprentice, like life as a university student, is a big adjustment with all kinds of hidden rules and expectations that can knock you out of the running if you don’t know about them.  For those without a guiding hand, these challenges can be overwhelming.

That’s where we come in. At Trade Smart College, we bridge the gap by teaching students the unwritten rules of the industry and securing them 950 hours of paid work experience before graduation. In doing so, we’re creating a concrete, reliable pathway into the trades—one that isn’t dependent on a last name or personal network.

We hope more institutions and policymakers will join us in building structured, accessible routes to trades success.

Key Takeaways from Celebrating First-Generation Trades Pathways

• First-generation tradespeople face unique challenges – Without family connections, securing an apprenticeship or entry-level job is much harder.
• Political leaders recognize the need for better trades pathways – MPs Lisa Hepfner, Chad Collins, and Minister Steven McKinnon visited Trade Smart College to discuss solutions.
• Women in trades need targeted support – Most women entering the trades are the first in their families to do so, requiring mentorship and focused recruitment efforts.
• Local trades recruitment is critical – Even in a trades-heavy city like Hamilton, outreach must extend beyond traditional trades families to ensure workforce sustainability.
• Trade Smart students are engaged and informed – They actively research government policies, apprenticeship supports, and workforce trends to advocate for their careers.
• Experience matters more than a diploma – Employers prioritize real-world work experience over classroom training, which is why Trade Smart College ensures every student graduates with 960 hours of paid trades work.
• Trade Smart College is built for students without industry ties – By teaching the hidden rules of the trades and securing hands-on work placements, we remove the traditional barriers to entry.

The Bottom Line

Building a New On-Ramp to the Trades

The conversation around first-generation tradespeople is long overdue. While universities have long championed first-generation students, little attention has been paid to those breaking into the trades without a built-in network. At Trade Smart College, we’re actively working to close this gap.

Trades careers shouldn’t be reserved for those lucky enough to have an uncle in the business. They should be accessible to anyone willing to work hard and learn. By ensuring our students graduate with real, on-the-job experience, we’re not just issuing diplomas—we’re producing career-ready tradespeople.

The politicians who visited our college left with a clear message: first-generation tradespeople are here, they’re ready, and they deserve real support. If policymakers, employers, and educators are serious about the future of the trades, they need to back programs that provide tangible, work-focused pathways into the industry—because opportunity shouldn’t depend on your last name.