News

A Message from the CWB Welding Foundation, March 15 2021

Woman of Steel participant welding a T joint in the horizontal position using the Shielded Metal Arc welding process.

Spark Something Amazing: Apply now for 2021-2022 programs

The CWB Welding Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for several of our programs for 2021-2022. We would also like to let you know about other programs that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spark Something Amazing: Apply now for 2021-2022 programs

The CWB Welding Foundation is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for several of our programs for 2021-2022. We would also like to let you know about other programs that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Capital Equipment and Consumables Fund

The Capital Equipment and Consumables fund supports the advancement of welding programs by ensuring safe, high-quality equipment and learning environments are available to students. New this year: we have created a downloadable version of the application form for your convenience. The online application form is still available for those who can complete their application in one session. Learn more about the program and submit an application online here.

Student Awards

We are honoured to support students across Canada with their post-secondary welding education through a number of awards: Hugh A. Krentz Exemplary Student Awards (open to post-secondary students); Joseph G. Doria Exemplary Student Awards (open to graduating secondary school students); the Nicole LeClair Welding Bursary Awards (open to Ontario residents); and the Indspire Building Bright Futures Awards (for Indigenous youth in Canada).

We also have a matching program with CWB Association Chapters to establish and co-fund student awards. To date, several Chapters and their membership have established annual student awards programs:

  • The CWB Association Calgary Chapter
  • The CWB Association Edmonton Chapter
  • The CWB Association Hamilton Chapter
  • The CWB Association Nova Scotia and Halifax Chapter (The Emily Tuck Memorial Award)
  • The CWB Association Winnipeg Chapter

Learn more about deadlines, eligibility, instructions and how to apply to Foundation awards here, or contact the relevant CWB Association Chapter.

Educator Training – Professional Development: Train the Trainer Workshops

The CWB Welding Foundation, with our partners in CWB Group, offer Train the Trainer workshops as 2- to 3-day professional development sessions to metalwork and welding teachers in secondary schools across Canada. Learn more and submit an expression of interest here.

Welding Camps

Due to the ongoing pandemic, we are currently unable to offer our signature Mind Over Metal welding camps for Canadian youth. We will continue to assess the situation as the pandemic recovery continues. For now, we are not accepting new applications from our educator community for our camp programs. We will monitor the situation and make a determination about when we will be able to deliver safe, high-quality camps. Learn more about Mind Over Metal welding camps here.

If you have submitted an application for a camp but we haven’t committed to the date with you, your application will automatically be put on hold. When we know more about how things are looking for the future, we will advise you to re-submit for a later date, and to consider other options—for example, you may be able to run a camp in the evenings or over weekends.

Programming for the Women of Steel—Introduction to Welding Program is being assessed on a case-by-case basis in compliance with regional restrictions. For more information and to submit an expression of interest, visit our website here.

Other initiatives

  • Skills/Compétences Canada: The Foundation continues to support Skills/Compétences Canada and provincial Skills competitions and events. If you’re involved with Skills this year, keep an eye out for the Foundation as a sponsor or exhibitor in virtual fairs.
  • Women of Steel: We continue to share stories of women welders and their supporters with our #WomenOfSteel campaign. We are also working with Skills Ontario to support their Young Women’s Initiatives, and helping women welders progress in their careers as welding inspectors with a special training program. Watch for these stories on our social media pages, share with your networks, and encourage women to explore welding and the skilled trades!

Going forward, we will be actively engaging with the educator community to develop new projects and priorities in the coming months. As new opportunities arise and evolve, we will keep you informed. Stay tuned for more exciting news to come.

The team at the CWB Welding Foundation is looking forward to working with schools, students, teachers, partners and volunteers for an exciting and fulfilling year. Let’s spark something amazing! #SparkSomethingAmazing

Sincerely,

Susan Crowley
Executive Director