MEDIA RELEASE March 17, 2023

OTF Grant Enables GTTI to Meet Community Training Needs

Sutton, ON – On Friday, local MPP Caroline Mulroney met with the team at Georgina Trades Training Inc. (GTTI) to hear more about the $175,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant it received in 2022 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The Resilient Communities Fund grant program was designed by OTF to help non-profits rebuild and recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and this two-year grant is helping GTTI develop and implement a new strategic plan for moving forward with in-demand programming.

“Our government is proud to be investing in GTTI’s innovative learning programs that supports workers and families to get the skills they need for better paying jobs,” said Caroline Mulroney, MPP for York-Simcoe. “The $175,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant they received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation earlier this year will help create opportunities for everyone locally and support our future economic growth.”

In order to move forward with these plans, funds from the grant are being used to help with staffing costs for a Communications and Research specialist, as well as helping with digital marketing, promotion, design, printing, purchasing software and helping with key administrative costs as well. GTTI has felt the many impacts of the pandemic, and thanks to this OTF grant, it will be able to plan for current and future needs, along with adapting and building on its program offerings to meet the changing demands of the community. It recently expanded GTTI’s online training to include over 1,000 certificate courses in a number of categories including: awareness, safety and soft skills.

“GTTI works to offer valuable programming that provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to overcome barriers to obtain gainful employment,” said Ashley Walker, Executive Director of GTTI. “The Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will enable GTTI to grow and improve upon our programming offerings along with our reach and impact on the community.”

GTTI – The Training Centre is committed to continuing to provide innovative training opportunities to the community. It is currently offering an Entrepreneur speaker series and coming up in April, an Introduction to Construction employment training program for York Region residents. GTTI also offers a variety of industry certifications such as First Aid/CPR and WHMIS, along with an Introduction to MIG Welding course. To view the full program offerings please visit the website at www.gtti.ca or contact by email at inquiry@gtti.ca

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grantmaking in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

Media Contact for The Training Centre:
Ashley Walker, Executive Director
905-722-6300 ext. 202
awalker@gtti.ca

NOTICE – Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that Georgina Trades Training Inc. (GTTI) will hold its Annual General Meeting in-person and virtually on May 25, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.

To register to attend in-person please contact GTTI: By telephone 905-722-6300 or email us at inquiry@gtti.ca

We are looking for new Board and Committee Members!

The Training Centre is (GTTI) seeking community-minded individuals to join our volunteer Board of Directors and/or committees.

The Training Centre (GTTI) is committed to building a diverse Board of Directors and encourages candidates, especially those who identify as Aboriginal, a person of disability, a member of a visible minority group, youth, those working in a trade, women ad any others who may contribute to the diversification of the Board and its Committees, to apply.

Please contact Dianne Hawkins at dhawkins@gtti.ca if you require any additional information or AODA assistance.

News Articles:

> Article about Jobs and Affordable housing in Georgina

> What GTTI is doing to help the Skilled Trade shortage

> CBC Article on the Future of Trades

> GTTI Skilled Trades to help with construction on nurse practitioner clinic in Jacksons Point