CWB Foundation Releases 2025-2026 Annual Report Highlighting the Power of Partnership in Skilled Trades Development

As Canada continues to invest in building a strong skilled trades workforce across sectors including construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and energy, investments in welding education help create pathways to future careers.

TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- The CWB Foundation has published its 2025-2026 Annual Report, Leveraging Partnerships to Build Stronger Pathways. Through working with partners in education, industry, labour, government and communities, they have been working to enhance welding and joining education and open pathways to Canada's skilled trades workforce.

The Foundation provided $4.1 million to welding and joining education and industry during the past fiscal year through various programs and partnerships. From creating career awareness to improving safety and welding education, the Foundation continues to make an impact in communities across Canada by continuing to fund student bursaries, improve classrooms and provide modernized equipment.

"Strong skilled trades pathways depend on more than recruitment. Learners need access to quality welding education, modern and safe training environments, industry-aligned skills, and clear connections to employment," said Susan Crowley, Executive Director of the CWB Foundation. "Through partnerships with education, industry, government and communities, we're helping create opportunities for Canadians to discover welding careers, develop the skills they need and contribute to the workforce needs of critical sectors across the country."

Strategic partnerships allow the CWB Foundation to extend the reach of its investments. For every one dollar invested by the CWB Foundation, $4.56 in total impact was generated with support from partners in education, government and industry.

Highlights from the CWB Foundation 2025-2026 Annual Report include:

• 510 youth participated in Mind Over Metal™ and Arx and Sparx welding camps. In addition, more than 9,800 people explored welding through simulator experiences at career fairs and events.
• 220 educators and career counsellors participated in educator training designed to strengthen technical welding knowledge and industry-relevant instruction.
• 325 participants took part in pre-employment programming, with 177 CSA W47.1 welder qualifications issued through pre-employment and upskilling initiatives.
• 384 PPE kits were provided to 42 Canadian secondary schools, giving 4,119 students access to upgraded protective equipment.
• 57 schools requested $1.64 million in equipment and technology advancement support to improve welding and technical education spaces, which demonstrates the continued need for investment in modern, industry-aligned training environments.
• 13 high school students in a Durham, Ontario, partnership program received apprenticeship offers upon completion and collectively earned 28 CWB welder qualifications.

Welding and joining are gateway skills for multiple Red Seal trades and critical sectors including construction, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, transportation, and advanced technologies. Through continued collaboration with its partners in education, industry, government and communities, the Foundation will continue strengthening pathways from career awareness and education to skills development, qualification, and employment--helping Canadians discover, train for and succeed in rewarding skilled trades careers.

Read the full 2025-2026 CWB Foundation Annual Report to explore the programs, partnerships and impact helping to strengthen Canada's skilled trades workforce:
www.cwbweldingfoundation.org/impact-reports/

About the CWB Foundation

The CWB Foundation is a national charitable organization that connects industry, education, government and communities to strengthen Canada's skilled trades workforce through welding and materials joining, gateway skills that are required by multiple Red Seal trades and support critical industries across the country.

Founded by the Canadian Welding Bureau, the Foundation helps address skilled labour shortages by supporting career awareness, skills development and access to quality training opportunities. Drawing on its national network and expertise in welding education, labour market needs and industry best practices, it helps forge pathways that connect Canadians to rewarding careers while supporting employers and industries nationally.

By building partnerships, sharing industry knowledge and promoting excellence in welding education and workforce development, the Foundation helps ensure Canada has the skilled talent needed to support economic growth, innovation and long-term prosperity.

SOURCE CWB Welding Foundation

Media Contact: Andrea Wiseman, Manager, Marketing Communications, CWB Foundation, [email protected], 226-314-2267