In October, George Brown proudly welcomed 20 youth and young adults with an interest in pursuing careers in the skilled trades on Thursday, October 10, for the annual Building Opportunities for Life Today (BOLT) Day of Discovery.
Hosted at Casa Loma Campus, the event was a collaboration between George Brown, the BOLT Foundation, and Tridel, offering participants an inspiring introduction to the many pathways and possibilities within the skilled trades.
The day began with a warm welcome, followed by remarks from Dr. Adel Esayed, Dean of George Brown's Faculty of Applied Science, Construction and Engineering Technologies, who delivered an inspiring message about the power of setting goals and working with purpose to achieve them.
"Careers in the skilled trades offer lifelong, rewarding opportunities and financial stability," said Norbert Costa, Executive Director of the BOLT Foundation. "With determination and hands-on learning, anyone can build a successful and fulfilling future."
Following the morning's presentations, participants explored George Brown's cutting-edge labs and classrooms, getting an inside look at the college's hands-on learning environments. The day concluded with a visit to a Tridel construction site, where students experienced first-hand what it's like to work on a live project and saw how their potential future careers could take shape.
Empowering youth through opportunity
Since its inception in 2009, the BOLT Foundation has worked to connect young people with meaningful pathways into the construction industry through scholarships, mentorship, and experiential learning. In partnership with George Brown, BOLT has supported hundreds of students, helping to close the skilled trades gap while empowering the next generation of builders and innovators.
Events like the BOLT Day of Discovery exemplify this partnership in action, bringing together educators, industry leaders, and aspiring tradespeople to build a stronger, more inclusive future for Ontario's construction sector.
How to apply for the BOLT awards:
The BOLT Charitable Foundation Award is available to students in sixteen CCET programs. To be eligible for the award, applicants must be full-time domestic students in financial need with a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in construction. Students must submit an online application for this award. Find information on George Brown's Awards and Scholarships page.
