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Helmets to Hardhats: Pathways to Apprenticeship for our Veterans

Canada’s Building Trades Magazine caught up with Helmets to employers. H2H is focused on career opportunities in Canada for
Hardhats (H2H) Executive Director, Joe Maloney, on the east coast anyone who has served (or is currently serving and looking to
in between meetings with owners and contractors. transition to a civilian career) in either the Regular or Reserve Force
Components of the Canadian Forces. The program offers
“All 14 building trades unions participate in the program and the
apprenticeship opportunities to achieve a journeyperson
majority of our contractors and large owners that employ our
qualification in the building and construction trade of one's choice,
members all support the program 100%. It’s doing very well, we
as well as potential opportunities in other management positions
travel through the country talking to veterans and industry
within this industry, all leading to a promising new career.
stakeholders regularly,” said Maloney. “This is a program funded
Regardless of an individual's military occupation, they may choose
and supported by the private sector in its entirety.”
to pursue any of the 14 applicable trade fields with full
H2H has worked for the last six years to create better pathways apprenticeship training being provided as required.
and advocate for the transition of military service members to
“On average a veteran is finding a union apprenticeship/career
quality careers with the best training available in the construction
opportunity once every three to four days – and the pace is
and maintenance industries. H2H has worked hard to place over a
accelerating,” said Maloney. “What we’ve found is that contractors,
thousand veterans into apprenticeships in the workforce through a
owners, and fellow union members all welcome the former soldiers
partnership with Canada’s Building Trades Unions and their

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