Promoting Equality and Innovation in the Skilled Trades Across Ontario
Championing Skilled Trades in Ontario
At Hard Hats United Inc., we are dedicated to advocating for the skilled trades within the Ontario construction industry.
By fostering a community that welcomes feedback from workers, supports growth and changes based on workers' feedback, and industry demands.
We support development and innovation. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that workers' workplaces are safe and healthy environments that empower skilled workers to achieve their full potential and productivity.
Our Mission and Vision
We empower and advocate for trades professionals—especially women, Moor, African, Caribbean, and other underrepresented workers—through mentorship, legal support, and data-driven advocacy. Together, we champion equity, inclusion, and opportunity on every job site.
Imagine an industry where promotions are based on skill, not stereotype; where every worker feels safe to speak up; and where diversity is celebrated as a core strength. We’re building that future, one report, one mentorship match, and one policy win at a time.
Hard Hats United Inc. champions skilled trades in Ontario's construction industry, providing advocacy and support to empower professionals. We bridge the gap between workforce needs and policy advancement, ensuring a thriving environment for skilled tradespeople. Join us in strengthening the industry through collaboration, education, and innovation, building a sustainable future together.
Why It Matters
Nearly half of all tradespeople report workplace harassment or bias. 48% say they’ve faced discrimination on the job. (source: Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Discrimination, Harassment, and a Lack of Respect Threaten to Drive Women Out of the Construction Industry) In 2024, there were 26 fatalities (source: ontario.ca - Health and Safety compliance campaigns) and 317 critical injuries in construction (source: ihsa.ca - Report for the Labour-Management Network). Let us not mention actual incidents and the immeasurable near-misses that are not tracked due to workers' fears of loss of employment. Furthermore, there were 236,000 WSIB claims registered in Ontario (source: safetycheck.onlineservices.wsib.on.ca). Research by the Institute for Work & Health indicates that approximately 64% of work‑related injuries are never reported to the WSIB—suggesting a large, uncounted pool of near‑misses and minor incidents that go undocumented (source: whsc.on.ca). A recent Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen survey found that 64 % of women in construction report having faced discrimination on the job, and nearly half (~50 %) report experiencing sexual harassment (source: newswire.ca - Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen). Ontario’s skilled trades sector is in crisis as recruitment of young men and women drops to the lowest in recent Canadian Construction Industry history. This adds to labour shortages as talented workers leave hostile environments. Without transparent data, policy reforms stall, and workers and employers bear the cost.
Explore Why It Matters: Advocating for Skilled Trades and Promoting Fair and Respectful Jobsites
By supporting Hard Hats United, you help keep skilled workers on the job, drive economic growth for our province, encourage feedback from all workers, which in turn builds safer and healthier workplaces for all workers.