From highways to high-rises, welding shops to drilling rigs, Canada’s growth depends on skilled workers filling important and highly in-demand jobs across the country. Preparing for those roles takes both practical and hands-on training.
That’s where Fleming College comes in. With specialized programs in drilling and blasting, welding, carpentry and renovation, Fleming has built a reputation for producing graduates who are not only skilled but ready to make a difference from day one.
Canada’s only drilling and blasting programs
Fleming College is the only school in the country with dedicated programs in both . Drilling instructor Jim Smith says while few people outside the industry talk about drilling as a career path, it touches nearly every corner of modern life.
“It’s the best career that nobody knows about,†he explained. “Drilling happens everywhere. If you’re in Toronto, there is probably a drill within a block of where you are. Everything from the new subway construction, bridges, roads — it all requires drill rigs.â€
In an era when automation and artificial intelligence are transforming industries, Smith points out that drilling isn’t one of them. “AI is not going to take this over anytime soon. We still need boots on the ground, people to drill the hole, because the geology changes rapidly.â€
Students enrolled in Fleming College’s Resources Drilling Technician and Blasting Techniques programs spend most of their class time performing hands-on learning in state-of-the-art facilities. They also conduct fieldwork in quarries and other off-campus locations. Smith said graduates leave in high demand, with many securing job offers even before tossing their caps.
Welding — a trade that opens doors
Welding offers its own variety of opportunities, and Fleming’s Welding Techniques program is designed to meet them all.
As Cody Simpson, Welding Program coordinator, explains, it’s best understood as a career with multiple branches. “The welding field is like an umbrella, and underneath that umbrella, there is everything from pipe fitters and steam fitters to structural and ornamental welders,†he said. “Welding touches on a lot of different areas in the construction and manufacturing sector.â€
Simpson said even those who pivot into other trades find welding valuable. “It’s rooted in multiple trades and you’ve got a lot of pathways underneath that welding umbrella to specialize,†he explained.
For students of the program, Fleming’s facilities are unmatched. The school has a 30-booth welding lab with an assortment of machines. Students train using several brands of welding machines, so their experience is more versatile and transferable to the real world.
Crafting a career in carpentry
Similarly, students enrolled in the Carpentry and Renovation Technician program also benefit from hands-on learning in facilities designed to replicate real job sites. Dr. Theresa Knott, acting co-president at Fleming College, said that the applied approach is at the heart of the school’s strength.
“At Fleming, programs like Welding and open doors for students to enter highly in-demand fields while building expertise in specialized skills,†she explained. “These pathways respond directly to industry needs — Ontario and Canada are experiencing shortages in skilled trades, especially in construction and advanced manufacturing.â€
Dr. Knott said, from their first semester, students spend a significant amount of time in shops and labs, working with the same tools, materials and safety standards they’ll encounter in the field. “The programs are developed with strong input from industry partners through program advisory committees, ensuring training is aligned with employer expectations,†she said.
Those employer connections often translate directly into jobs. “Employers know that Fleming graduates are highly skilled, safety-conscious and job-ready,†said Dr. Knott. “The College maintains strong relationships with local and regional partners, allowing students to benefit from networking, site visits and real job opportunities.â€
Preparing graduates for success from day one
Across drilling, welding, and carpentry, Fleming College emphasizes hands-on, career-ready training that ensures graduates can step into high-demand roles with confidence.
The combination of expert instructors, state-of-the-art facilities and strong industry connections means students leave prepared not just to find a job, but to make an impact in their field immediately.
To learn more about Fleming’s Resources Drilling Technician and Blasting Techniques programs, as well as Welding Techniques and Carpentry and Renovation Technician programs, visit .
