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Expression of Interest issued by New Tecumseth for proposed Trades & Technology Training Centre

March 5, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Town of New Tecumseth is taking an important step toward strengthening the local workforce by issuing an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a proposed Trades & Technology Training Centre in the community.

At its meeting on Feb. 23, town council approved the release of the EOI to invite accredited post-secondary institutions to propose partnership opportunities to develop or co-develop and deliver skilled trades and technology training in a local setting.

The EOI is intended to identify institutions with the capacity, interest, and vision to work collaboratively with the Town of New Tecumseth, Simcoe County, and industry partners to help meet the region’s growing workforce demands.

The proposed training centre would support the town’s long-term economic development goals while addressing skilled trades shortages across manufacturing, automotive, construction, and emerging trades.

Through the EOI, institutions are asked to outline potential program models, partnership approaches, facility requirements, and implementation plans aligned with local and regional labour market needs.

“This is the first time the Town of New Tecumseth is formally exploring a post-secondary partnership for a Trades and Technology Training Centre,” said New Tecumseth Mayor Richard Norcross. “Across Canada, skilled trades shortages are affecting employers at every level, and those pressures are being felt right her in our community. By launching this Expression of Interest, we are taking a proactive step to build strong local talent pipelines and position New Tecumseth as a regional leader in skilled trades training.”

In 2025, town staff met with six post-secondary institutions, alongside an industry partner, to better understand skilled trades programming and assess early interest in a training centre in New Tecumseth. These site visits helped inform the town’s approach and provided insight into successful training models, while respecting the confidentiality of institutions and industry partners involved in early discussions.

The EOI will formally launch on March 2, 2026, and is open to any accredited post-secondary institution.

No site has yet been selected.

Subject to future funding approvals, the town plans to undertake a feasibility study following the EPO process to assess labour market demand, infrastructure requirements, community readiness, and potential locations.

“We want our young people to see a future for themselves right here. A local trades school would open doors to meaningful careers while keeping talent, skills, and opportunity in our community,” added Mayor Norcross.

Findings from the study will help inform program design, capacity, and next steps toward implementation.  

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