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TORONTO — Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) Canada is on the receiving end of $3 million in funding from the Ontario government over three years which will help 650 active and former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members transition to civilian life by training them for careers in construction.

With the funding, H2H Canada will be able to expand job-ready skills training to more veterans and accelerate their pathways from active military service to apprenticeships in construction by two to three months, a release reads.

“We owe our veterans, who have put their lives on the line in defence of our freedom, safety and values, a debt that we can never fully repay,” said Premier Doug Ford in a statement. “Today’s announcement is just one way our government is working to give back, so veterans can transition from the armed forces to rewarding careers in the skilled trades with the support and training they need.”

H2H Canada will also be able to deliver access to safety training and specialized certifications for in-demand careers and expand their outreach programs for racialized and Indigenous veterans and those with disabilities, the release continues.

The government also supports H2H Canada through Ontario’s Skills Development Fund Training Stream, investing over $915,000 to open new pathways to 105 participants into Ontario’s unionized construction sector and develop customized training for senior cadets. This brings Ontario’s total investment in the organization to over $4.7 million.