Photo courtesy Skills Canada-Ontario/Facebook

Ontario is adding three more mobile classrooms to its efforts to promote the skilled trades to young people.

The province is spending $5.4 million to build the mobile tech classrooms.

The classrooms will feature hands-on learning stations and simulators for electrical systems, welding, crane operation, auto-painting, tire and brake work, heavy machinery and other skills.

“They’ll allow visitors to learn about careers in electrical work, crane operation, and many other skilled trades, including our province’s booming automotive industry, while testing out, working with heavy machinery and welding. These twelve-meter-long trucks with fully wheelchair accessible classrooms will visit schools and events in every region of Ontario,” Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Participants will also have the opportunity to speak directly with industry members and learn about local training opportunities, colleges, unions and employers.

The mobile classrooms build on a pilot project that saw one travel the province last year.

McNaughton says over 40,000 people have visited the classroom at more than fifty events, including a visit to Thunder Bay.

The new mobile classrooms are scheduled to be on the road by next summer and operated by Skills Ontario.