The Ontario Trillium Foundation has awarded $2 million to four different green economy projects, including ones in biomass, wind, and solar. The Greater Toronto Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council will receive $393,100 over three years to train building professionals and trades people in the technologies and benefits of green building in Ontario. Partners in Skills Development for the Green Economy will receive $503,300 over three years to “further the development of solar generation programs and provide skills training… to meet the needs of Eastern Ontario employers in the photovoltaic area of the green economy.” Ontario Trillium Foundation Chair, Helen Burstyn, commented that, “Each of these grants is a vote of confidence for Ontario organizations that are seeking to play an innovative role and contribute economically to their communities by creating jobs and re-skilling people to work in the green sector.”

The Need for Qualified PV and Solar Installers

Grants like the ones offered by the Trillium Foundation are extremely important since they help foster job opportunities and accompanying training outlets. Fortunately, such grants are well received within Ontario since demand for solar PV installers has never been higher. By the end of 2011, 51% of companies expect to face shortages, and 78% expect to experience shortages in installation.

Solar Training Is the Key to a Strengthened Economy

Ontario stands at a crossroad, in the midst of recovering from a deep economic recession. Trillium’s Burstyn believes that by “strengthening our workforce we make Ontario stronger.” Through grants that encourage career training and solar investment, the Ontario Trillium Foundation is helping the province build a green workforce able to support continued growth in the coming years. At a time when employment opportunities are scarce, it seems unfathomable that solar companies could ever experience labour shortages.

Clearly, solar PV training classes and related educational opportunities will prove increasingly vital to the local economy as Ontario tries to correct such labour imbalances. David Gower, Associate Director of Ontario Solar Academy, comments that, “Lack of professional solar training is a potential bottleneck in Ontario. He adds, “Consumer demand and manufacturing supply are both on the rise, but without qualified installers to help build the infrastructure, the province’s solar push may not go far enough.”