At an event hosted at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Akerley on August 4, 2026, Irving Shipbuilding joined partners to announce a $3.2 million investment to drive the modernization of NSCC's welding and metal fabrication shops.
This investment helps grow the capacity of the shops, adding 20 new welding booths to the campus' welding facilities, as well as new equipment and an enhanced mechanical and electrical environment. New state-of-the-art equipment has been added to the metal fabrication shop to enhance training. Mechanical and electrical distribution systems have also been updated. The shops have been renamed as the Irving Shipbuilding Welding Shop and the Irving Shipbuilding Metal Fabrication Shop.
Irving Shipbuilding and NSCC's ongoing partnerships include the Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence, supporting the Pathways to Shipbuilding program, which provides access to education, training and jobs for Women, Indigenous Peoples and Black Canadians, groups which have been under-represented in shipbuilding, as well as the Irving Shipbuilding Marine Trades Initiative, a three-year customized training initiative supporting 80 students.
By offering free tuition for students across three marine trades programs: welding, metal fabrication and pipe trades, this initiative removes financial barriers to high-quality training, opens doors for more Nova Scotians to enter high-demand trades and helps address critical labour shortages in the marine sector. Many students have completed valuable work term experience with Irving Shipbuilding. Graduates meeting the hiring criteria may be considered for employment with Irving Shipbuilding.
QUOTES
"Irving Shipbuilding is proud to be supporting not only the modernization of the welding and fabrication shops at NSCC, but also the next generation of trades workers in Nova Scotia. These state-of-the-art shops and tools will provide students with the best possible environment to learn and hone their trade, strengthening an already growing capability in Atlantic Canada."
Dirk Lesko, President, Irving Shipbuilding
"Thanks to this multi-million-dollar investment, the College can build on its ability to ensure major operations like Irving Shipbuilding and the marine industry in general can benefit from the training those resources provide the students coming to the College to prepare for this vital sector."
NSCC Acting President Anna Burke
