Ontario Launches Fifth Annual Level Up! Skilled Trades Career Fairs

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The Ontario government is set to host its fifth annual Level Up! skilled trades career fairs across 12 communities, aiming to connect students and jobseekers with in-demand careers in the skilled trades.

COBOURG, ONT. — The Ontario government has taken a significant step towards promoting careers in the skilled trades by launching its fifth annual Level Up! skilled trades career fairs. These fairs are designed to connect students, families, and jobseekers with lucrative and in-demand careers in the skilled trades sector. Planned to span multiple days in 12 different communities, the 2026 fairs are projected to engage more than 60,000 participants, according to a government release.
The Level Up! fairs will feature open house sessions alongside interactive exhibitions, all aimed at inspiring the next generation of skilled workers. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore dozens of Ontario's 144 skilled trades through hands-on demonstrations, informative exhibits, and discussions with a variety of stakeholders including employers, unions, and training providers.
All open house events will be free to the public and are scheduled to run from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. across various locations. The fairs will kick off in Kingston on September 29, followed by events in Barrie on October 6, Timmins on October 14, and Thunder Bay on October 21. Additional fairs will take place in Sudbury on October 28, Hamilton on November 3, Windsor on November 11, London on November 17, Ottawa on November 24, Oshawa on December 1, and Mississauga on December 8.
This initiative comes at a time when Ontario has reported a record number of active apprentices in the skilled trades, surpassing 94,000, marking the highest figure in over a decade. The increasing interest in skilled trades careers is timely, as projections indicate that by 2035, approximately one in six job openings in Ontario will be linked to skilled trades-related occupations. This trend underscores the growing recognition of the importance of skilled trades in the province's economy and workforce development.

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