Applications are now open for our All Ages 18+ Cohort starting March 2026. Learn More!

About

Our Impact

A non-profit construction contractor delivering high quality work by providing long-term career pathways for motivated community members.

9+
years in operation

$1.5M
annual wages to participants

6.5K
retrofits completed

30K
units upgraded

100
people trained/year

90%
grads employed full-time

90K
hours paid training/year

Press highlights

Building Pathways: Meridian’s Reframe Program in Action

This video highlights how Meridian’s Reframe Program is tackling Ontario’s skilled trades shortage while expanding access to meaningful careers. Through hands-on training, financial coaching, and wraparound supports, and in partnership with Community Builders and Building Up, the program empowers people like Summer to gain confidence, build skills, and contribute to affordable housing development. The impact reaches far beyond employment, strengthening communities across Ontario.

Watch here

Building Up and the Labor Market for Green Sector Trades

Watch how Building Up is helping build the skilled trades force to make Toronto a more efficient city.

Watch here

Making a Difference: Building Up on Global News

Making a Difference: Construction school creates pathway to employment through free hands-on training.

Watch here

CBC Article on Building Ups contribution to green building careers

Social contractors could present solutions to housing crisis, labour shortage and climate change all at once.

TCHC promoting our program for their residents

Building Up offers construction training and employment opportunities to TCHC tenants.

Testimonials

Akeem B.

BU Alumni and Mentor

Building Up played a vital role in me becoming who I am today. From assisting me in joining the Union, to helping me build the resume I needed for my first job site. They paid for all the PPE I needed, they paid for my driver's license, paid for all my classes at the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades. Trained me in financial literacy, paid my rent when I was having difficulty. They helped me track my hours when I was an apprentice, and as a Building Up Alumni they still call me from time to time to check on me and provide support.

Scaling Up

Our biggest challenge is scaling up to meet the massive demand of the 1,800+ applications we receive each year. Next Steps:

New Training Facility:

Our current training centre has the space to train 100 per year. Our goal is to double this capacity and we are looking for support to locate and fund a 15,000 square ft facility to house that growth

Program Expansion:

Our current funding partners enable us to fund 100 training spots per year. We are looking to build new partnership and scale the existing to fund the deep supports we provide to our participants, and meet the communities demand for this training.

New Services:

As a social enterprise, we provide all our trainees with work on sites. To train more people, we need more sites, and are therefore actively expanding our service offerings to new trades to be able to build a business that can support the training we aim to provide.