I am very pleased to attest to the valued relationship the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association (MHCA), which represents the heavy construction industry in Manitoba, has enjoyed with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) since its founding.

We have had the benefit of partnering with MCSC since its inception as a founding member on a wide variety of projects which cover a broad spectrum of industry need and interest. Those include but are not limited to: serving as a lead liaison with, to and for the Indigenous communities and offering education, training and employment opportunities; developing curriculum in a variety of heavy civil related education streams; offering education and training to students interested in heavy construction careers in Thompson, and the development of heavy equipment operating training and certification to name but a few.

As the above list, albeit incomplete, demonstrates, that the MCSC mandate which includes identifying gaps in education and training; filling those gaps by developing curriculum, content and standards; partnering in or facilitating delivery, demonstrates why MCSC is regarded as the 'go to' entity for educational and training partnerships for our industry.

I believe that our partnership with MCSC has had a positive impact on both our industry and our emerging workforce. We look forward to continuing and furthering that relationship.

On behalf of the Manitoba Home Builders' Association (MHBA) Board of Directors and all our members, congratulations to the Manitoba Construction Sector Council on your 10th anniversary! As a funding member of the MCSC, we support and truly appreciate the tremendous work the staff at the MCSC does on behalf of Manitoba's residential construction industry. The work the MCSC does in promoting career opportunities within our sector and providing educational programming right across Manitoba has a significant benefit to our industry. We are very proud of the dedicated team at MCSC!

Congratulations to everyone at the Manitoba Construction Sector Council on your 10th anniversary and we wish you continued success for many, many years to come!

I've been a member for a very short period of time and can already see the momentum that the council has gained. The initiatives that are being created are establishing a long term plan that affectively trains willing candidates in a vast variety of interesting careers.

The council has clearly understood the message that employment opportunities don't always look the same and not everyone falls in the same categories which has created a buzz that the normal every day jobs has changed. Now careers are being made and candidates have found a new way to learn and work while creating a tremendous amount of self-worth and pride in themselves and the communities they're from.

It's an exciting time to be part of this much needed program that's evolving to meet the needs of workers and companies alike working and thriving throughout the province.

With the continuous and evolving projects and career opportunities, the amount of hard work the board has put in is evident.

Promotion of careers in construction is the primary objective of the Manitoba Construction Sector Council. The MCSC attempts to do this collaboratively with other players in the industry in order to ensure the widest exposure for the industry both demographically and geographically.

I think it's important for people to take training in the construction industry because there is always going to be people retiring and if there is so few people taking these courses then there won't be anyone to take over these jobs that will build our future and keep everything running, and I am proud that one day I will contribute to that growth. I want to thank MCSC for giving me the opportunity for the experience and showing me what I want to pursue as a career.

The VR headsets are a great opportunity for students to experience the broad range of trades in Manitoba. This exposure will hopefully encourage those who are interested in the trades to pursue a hands-on career.

I didn't get accepted at first, I applied but didn't get an interview. I took the initiative and called James Murphy, asked him why I was not picked. He gave me a second chance, and I took every opportunity, and I am here. Volunteering at Habitat and building a pop-up project for Downtown Winnipeg Biz. The program taught me the importance of a positive attitude and helped me to grow as a productive individual and to be reliable, humble and confident to take the initiative. My hope is honestly to be a Red Seal or a great contractor for my community, my people, and my neighbourhood; to make something out of my life. First of all, I'd like to thank MCSC and First People Development Inc. for giving Indigenous people the opportunity to create and build a better future for ourselves, our kids and our communities—they help us with highlighting our goals and values for better opportunities. If opportunities don't exist, then build a door.

What got me into the program was daily life struggles and I just wanted to find me an opportunity that would help me rebuild and help me learn something new. What I enjoyed most was the hands-on work and being able to come out of my comfort zone. It was a new surrounding, it was a lot of new people, with a lot of new different aspects about it. It was pretty awesome. My hopes for this program are that it continues to grow and continues to hire people and individuals like myself who are dealing with struggles. It also helps to open opportunities for everyone, it doesn't hold you back, and it helps you build and moves you forward. I would recommend it because it opens a lot of opportunities, it gives you more skills, it helps you with new friendships, and it helps me with settling my goals, it helps me set what I want to achieve in life.

"The simulators offer the students an opportunity to work in equipment in a safe way, right from the start." When Greenfield started in construction many years ago, a new hire "was just thrown the keys to an excavator and told to figure it out." Ultimately, the program is intended to help build skill sets of individuals and improve job readiness to strengthen their prospects for employment into the heavy construction industry, and, to grow the future workforce of skilled labour for the industry.

Phil B. saw the benefit right away. A student in the course, Bourgeois said there was more involved than just virtually hopping on the mammoth machinery. "What was an eye opener for me, was the depth of safety training on practices and procedures that needs to be done before you een step foot on a piece of equipment," he says.