In the world of skilled trades, showing up ready and mastering practical skills on site isn't just part of the job it's how great careers are made. At Humber Polytechnic, that mindset comes to life every day through hands-on learning, real-world challenges, and industry partnerships that help students find their edge.
With a renewed investment over the next three years, DEWALT is once again stepping up for Canada's future trades professionals. Their support, offered through the DEWALT Grow the Trades grant program, will continue to support scholarships, emergency bursaries, skills competitions, and tool and equipment donations, helping students build real skills and strong careers from the ground up.
For many students, this kind of support is a turning point. "Receiving the scholarship allowed me to stop worrying about bills and start focusing on my welding," says Roney Kandoria, a recent graduate from the Welding Techniques program and DEWALT Pathways to the Trades Scholarship recipient. "It gave me the confidence to take on new challenges, explore more training opportunities, and dream bigger about where this career could take me."
The renewed partnership reflects a deep commitment to excellence and access in Canadian skilled trades education. Students in programs such as carpentry, horticulture, and welding will benefit from training on the tools used on today's job sites that they'll use in their future careers. Funding will also support travel and participation in provincial and national skills competitions, in which students can test their abilities against top talent, sharpen their skills and continue growing as future professionals.
"At DEWALT, we believe in building more than just tools - we build opportunity," says Allan Hawes, general manager - Canada. "By supporting Humber's skilled trades students, we're investing in a workforce that's resilient, capable, and ready to contribute to a growing trades industry. These students are shaping the future of trades in Canada, and we're proud to stand behind them."
"DEWALT's commitment goes beyond tools - it's about empowering students," says Michael Auchincloss, associate dean and principal of the Centre for Skilled Trades & Technology. "Our students gain the real-world experience and confidence they need to thrive in their careers. This partnership is about shared values, lasting impact, and ensuring Canada's next generation of trades professionals are equipped for success."
As a polytechnic, Humber blends academic learning with practical, applied experience - preparing students not just to graduate, but to lead. "DEWALT's continued investment speaks to what makes polytechnic education so powerful," says Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO of Humber Polytechnic. "Our students are applying their learning by working with the very tools and technologies they will encounter in the field. This partnership helps them graduate ready to make an immediate impact in the workforce."
For DEWALT, supporting the students who will shape the future of Canadian trades goes beyond a commitment - it's a passion.
