Innovative Aecon-Golden Mile joint venture expanding economic opportunities and helping local residents launch careers in the trades

Aecon-Golden Mile (A-GM), a community-led joint venture between the Center for Inclusive Economic Opportunity Golden Mile (CIEO) (51%) and Aecon (49%), is expanding economic opportunities and helping local residents in the Greater Golden Mile area of ​​Scarborough, Ontario overcomes employment barriers and launch thriving careers in the trades.

The CIEO is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2020 by 10 community organizations to expand economic opportunities for residents of the Greater Golden Mile. Its majority ownership means more than half of A-GM’s revenue will be reinvested in the Golden Mile community, with Aecon providing training for skilled trades and functional support roles.

A-GM was recently identified as the preferred contractor in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kilmer Group for utilities-related work including hydrovac and fiber optic installations. Kilmer Group is developing projects in the West Don Lands area of ​​Toronto as part of a consortium with Tricon Residential and Dream Unlimited. A-GM is currently recruiting Greater Golden Mile residents for unionized construction jobs associated with this work, and for its next cohort to begin training in January of 2023 as part of an ongoing effort to build a stable workforce from the community.

To-date, A-GM has hired eight local residents and by December 2023, approximately 45 workers are anticipated to be employed. A-GM will eventually be fully operated and staffed by community residents.

“We are committed to building better communities and strengthening our team through diversity and inclusion while delivering critical infrastructure,” said Adrienne Clarke, Project Manager, Aecon Utilities and A-GM. “We look forward to working with our valued clients and CIEO partners as A-GM creates sustainable employment and lasting economic benefits to enable future generations in the Golden Mile to thrive.”

Many open positions do not require previous construction experience and successful candidates receive tailored and paid training, competitive salaries and benefits, and opportunities for career development. A-GM encourages applications from traditionally underrepresented groups in the construction industry, including Women, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and newcomers to Canada. Priority is given to residents with postal codes beginning with M1J, M1K, M1L, M3C and M4A.

“A-GM strives to be a first-choice employer and contractor for the significant infrastructure development opportunities planned in the Golden Mile area,” said Clarke.

The area along Eglinton Avenue East between Victoria Park Avenue and Birchmount Road alone is anticipated to be redeveloped with over 75 proposed mid and high-rise buildings containing more than 30,000 residential units and over one million square feet in retail and office space over the next few decades.

A-GM was launched through the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity (ILEO) initiative, which is convened by United Way Greater Toronto and BMO Financial Group, to bring together the private, public and community sectors and find innovative ways to reduce gaps in economic prosperity at the neighborhood level.

“Aecon Golden-Mile is on track to be a real game-changer for the Greater Golden Mile neighborhood by not just providing jobs but creating on-ramps to financial security and self-sufficiency for residents. It’s one of the local solutions United Way is building with residents and businesses to ensure neighborhoods are inclusive for all,” said Daniele Zanotti, United Way CEO, Greater Toronto Area.

The Golden Mile is a commercial district, which was one of Canada’s first model industrial areas. The area is home to diverse communities and groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the construction industry. Over 60 per cent of residents in the area were born outside of Canada and over 70 per cent identify as a visible minority.

The Labor Education Center is one of CIEO’s 10 founding community organizations and is helping A-GM recruit its next cohort of trainees. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Marzieh Sarvi ([email protected] or 647-836-7420) to apply and learn more about upcoming job opportunities.

About Aecon

As a Canadian leader in construction and infrastructure development with global expertise, Aecon strives to be the number one Canadian infrastructure company and is proud to be recognized as one of the Best Employers and Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada. Aecon safely, profitably and sustainably delivers integrated solutions to private and public-sector clients through its Construction segment in the Civil, Urban Transportation, Nuclear, Utility and Industrial sectors, and provides project development, financing, investment and management services through its Concessions segment. Join our online community on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @AeconGroupInc.

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