The Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT) has launched a new anti-discrimination and anti-harassment (ADAH) training program that it says government, employers, unions, training centres and industry partners should adopt as a core training for construction job sites in Ontario.

Designed by tradespeople, for tradespeople, the ADAH training program directly addresses the systemic causes of stress, exclusion and harm on job sites – issues that continue to undermine the recruitment and retention of skilled workers across Ontario. The program is free.

OBCT says workplace culture remains one of the biggest obstacles for underrepresented groups entering the trades. With the construction industry projecting a need for 154,100 new workers over the next decade, barriers such as harassment, discrimination and unsafe conditions continue to challenge long-term career success. These conditions underscore the urgent need for industry-wide change to create a safer and healthier workplace culture.

"ADAH is essential to building safe, respectful job sites. To strengthen recruitment and retention, it must be mandatory – built into apprenticeship training and a requirement before anyone steps onto a job site. Optional culture change isn't enough," said OBCT program manager Kate Walsh.

OBCT is advocating to make ADAH training a mandatory component of apprenticeship completion. Findings from the organization’s recent survey show that 52% of tradeswomen have experienced harassment at work highlighting the need for structured, consistent training that equips employers and workers with the skills to identify, prevent and respond to discrimination and harassment on job sites.

The ADAH program promotes inclusive, team-oriented worksite culture that supports improvement across unions, employers, and training institutions. It also explores mechanisms that encourage early reporting and proactive resolution of workplace issues, reducing lost time on harassment-related claims and preventing workplace injury.

The training is structured around four core modules and incorporates real lived experiences from tradeswomen across Ontario: stigmas and prejudices, classes of discrimination, classes of harassment, and prevention and proactive solutions.

"It's 2025, it's clear that our industry needs change,” said OBCT chair Karen Pullen. “The ADAH training program is about fostering a stronger collective culture that aligns with the values of fairness, dignity, and equity. It is about ensuring that everyone feels safe and supported going to work to support the growth of our industry."

The program is supported by the Skills Development Fund from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

OBCT is a network committed to advancing, supporting, and advocating for women in the skilled trades, and a program of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario.