Indigenous Apprentices Forge Futures in Millwrighting Through Innovative Training Program

📅 Today

The Introduction to Millwrighting program, designed to empower Indigenous individuals with essential skills and job opportunities in the nuclear sector, is making significant strides in developing the next generation of trades professionals.

Harley Meekins, a millwright apprentice from the Saugeen Ojibway nation, is gaining practical experience with advanced robotics as part of his job. Employed by Aecon, Meekins is contributing to the reconstruction of nuclear reactors at Bruce Power. Similarly, Shane Nahrgang from Curve Lake First Nation has transitioned into a rewarding career as a journeyman millwright and trainer with E.S. Fox at Darlington Nuclear after spending 15 years in various roles, including aluminum installation.
Both Meekins and Nahrgang embarked on their millwrighting careers through the Introduction to Millwrighting (ITM) program, a six-week initiative established by the Millwright Regional Council (MRC) in partnership with Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the Indigenous employment agency Kagita Mikam, the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, the Electrical Power Systems Construction Association, and Millwright Kingston Local 1410. Andy Forsyth, vice-president of business development for the MRC, has been instrumental in the program's creation and is notably the first trades union representative on the Canadian Nuclear Association's board of directors.
Launched as a pilot project in September 2021 at Bruce Power, the ITM program initially enrolled eight Indigenous candidates eager to join the Millwright Union. Candidates were selected from local Indigenous communities and underwent interviews conducted by a dedicated team. The program combines academic upgrading, provided by the Bruce County Adult Learning Centre, and four weeks of hands-on training in millwright skills. A second cohort began in November 2021 at the Darlington Energy Complex, adding another eight Indigenous candidates to the program. Since its inception, approximately 130 graduates have emerged from the ITM initiative.
"For Indigenous people to truly get a break, you’ve got to do something different," Forsyth emphasizes. He notes that the MRC's aptitude test can be intimidating, prompting the need for educational partnerships that help applicants understand and navigate the test components. "Sometimes you just need a chance," Forsyth adds.
The ITM program consists of four weeks dedicated to millwright skills training, complemented by two weeks focused on essential skills like math, spatial reasoning, and communication. The program aims for participants to become indentured into the Millwright Union as first-year apprentices after passing the required aptitude test, which is essential for jobsite dispatch. Forsyth stresses the importance of ensuring that graduates transition directly into apprenticeships, as returning home without a job could lead to a loss of interest. ITM contractor partners are committed to this pathway.
Many former ITM participants have successfully completed the four-year millwright apprenticeship, securing positions with notable companies such as OPG, Aecon, Black & McDonald, and E.S. Fox. Within OPG, the ITM program is part of the Indigenous Opportunities Network, which focuses on recruiting and placing job-ready Indigenous individuals in skilled trades, project management, and administrative roles within the energy sector. At OPG’s nuclear and hydro stations, MRC millwrights are responsible for installing, maintaining, diagnosing, and repairing industrial and mechanical equipment.
Cynthia Domjancic, OPG's senior vice-president of human resources and chief ethics officer, stated, "OPG has long invested in attracting, developing, and retaining the next generation of trades professionals. We are expanding pathways into these rewarding careers through a range of initiatives, with a particular focus on engaging people and communities that have historically been underrepresented in the skilled trades, including through the Introduction to Millwrighting program."
Although the ITM program was originally designed to recruit more Indigenous individuals into the millwright trade, it has since evolved to include other underrepresented groups, such as people of color and women. The program is also being implemented in additional provinces, including Manitoba and British Columbia. The next cohort of eight ITM students is set to commence the course on November 9. Upon completion, they will enter millwright apprenticeships at Darlington with Black & McDonald and Aecon, potentially leading to fulfilling careers in the field, similar to Meekins's experience.
Meekins expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I’m blessed to be part of a large and evolving team of millwrights. It’s (ITM) been a really good program. It’s allowed me to put my hands on industry-leading technology. I look forward to rebuilding more reactors."

Related Posts