Nova Scotia’s Building Trades Unions First in Canada to Introduce Building It Green

Nova Scotia’s Building Trades Unions will be the first in Canada to implement Building It Green – Canada’s most comprehensive climate-focused construction education curriculum.

“Our partners are increasingly incorporating climate considerations in their project plans, and this program will help us ensure we can meet their workforce needs,” says Brad Smith, Executive Director of Mainland Nova Scotia Building Trades, “We’re proud to be the first program up and running in Canada with training for our members.”

Designed to empower trainers, journeypersons, and apprentices, Building It Green is a national union training program to strengthen the construction industry’s ability to meet the challenges of climate change. The program was developed by Canadian Building Trades Unions, with project partners. Building It Green will provide apprentices, trainers, and journeypersons with a deep understanding of how climate change and sustainability intersect with construction and the impact they have on Canada’s future.

“We’re so pleased that Nova Scotia is leading the way and offering skilled trades professionals and apprentices the chance to upgrade their skills to meet climate challenges,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration. “There is a tremendous effort underway to build the infrastructure we need, right now, and it is incredible to think these could be built greener for generations to come.”

Building it Green, designed by tradespeople for tradespeople. will be available in over 200 union training centres from coast-to-coast to support Canada’s Building Trades Unions’ employer and contractor partners, as the program rolls out nationally over the coming months.

Together, with SkillPlan, Climate Industry Research Team (CIRT), and Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC), and through funding provided by Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Union Training and Innovation Program – Innovation in Apprenticeship, Canada’s Building Trades Unions undertook a multi-year project beginning in 2021 to understand the challenges the construction industry can address in supporting Canada’s ambitious net-zero goals. This program is now coming to fruition.

For more details please visit: www.buildingtrades.ca/workforce-dev/building-it-green/