Filling the Gap

The Pressure Welder Program

About Us

CWB Welding Foundation

The CWB Welding Foundation is a national registered charity that relies on the support of industry and community organizations to address the welding skilled trade shortage in Canada. The Foundation supports the Canadian welding industry in having a sustainable labour supply of welding professionals and skilled tradespeople that contribute to our economic prosperity. Through forging partnerships between industry, education and government we enable Canadians to build great careers in the welding industry, through encouraging awareness, training, the promotion of best practices through a quality educational experience, impartial advocacy and greater accessibility.

Through Education-based programs and initiatives, we continue to reduce barriers that affect key groups; elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and educators, Indigenous, women, and the underrepresented. We envision a future where all individuals are encouraged and provided the support needed to reach their true potential in a career in welding regardless of identity factors, social and financial status, and lived experiences including gender, age, ethnicity, language, literacy, culture, income, and geographical location.

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Canada

We are members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers. Boilermakers have been working in Canada since the start of the industrial revolution in the early 1700s. The members of our union have been building the industrial landscape of Canada since the 1890s. Our trade is a major builder of today’s industrial revolution – in the shipyards, petrochemical plants, pulp mills, steel plants, steel fabrication shops, mines, power plants, cement plants and military bases. Boilermakers are involved in the fabrication, installation, maintenance, repair, inspection and operation of the equipment that keeps Canada’s economic engine moving forward.

As Boilermakers, we are required to be trained through apprenticeship programs as Boilermakers, steel fabricators, welders, millwrights or non-destructive technicians. Most members of our union have more than one qualification.

Canada’s Boilermakers union is founded on the principle that in a democracy, good unionism is good citizenship. The purpose of our union is to:

Implement the exercise of the natural right of workers to organize so they may more securely work with dignity.
Establish freedom and security.
Enable members to participate actively in self-government.
Unite in one International Brotherhood so that all workers are eligible for membership without discrimination based on religion, race, creed, colour, national origin, age or sex.
Secure and improve wages, hours, working conditions, and other economic advantages for our members through collective bargaining and advancement of our standing in the community and in the labour movement.

We are here to work with the business community and different levels of government for the betterment of our industry and society.

CWB Group

The CWB Group is an industry-supported private sector organization providing welding certification, management systems registration and training services to over 7600 companies in 48 countries. Supported through CWB Certification, CWB Education, CWB Registration, CWB Consulting, and the CWB Association membership, the CWB Group provides a comprehensive and integrated service to the welding and joining industry. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, with staff and offices across the country, the CWB Group is accredited by and operates under the authority of, the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) as a Certification Body for the administration of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) welding-related standards.

Recognized as one of the largest and most innovative welding organizations in the world, CWB Group’s reach is unique in the fact that we are a national mandated organization that has successfully transitioned into international markets, bringing with us our high standards welding certification, education, safety and membership. The CWB Group prides itself in being innovative in our services and highly responsive to their clients’ needs, which results in an important contribution to the high level of competence enjoyed by industries employing welding and joining and the consistent progress in welding technology, as well as the reliability of welded products.

Testimonials

“… after passing the Pressure Welding test, I celebrated, even my whole family were in awe… I will admit, on my drive back, I broke down in tears, I was so happy, I couldn’t believe I did it… A good feeling, that’s for sure.”

“[the training] is amazing! Honestly, the teachers are really dedicated to helping us, they are always checking up on us in the booths, and if you ever have any questions, you can ask them… I am a visual, hands-on person, and they (the instructors) are there to show you physically how it’s got to be done and it helps me to visualize it an ask the questions I have.”

“I have recommended a lot of my friends to take the course, it’s pretty helpful! It was a lot of work, but it paid off. I wouldn’t be able to do it without this program.”

“I would 100% recommend this training to everyone, especially to the apprentices who just don’t have a lot of weld time… this [training] is a godsend to have this much shop time… you have the instructors to help you out, it is worth it for sure.”

“There is a moment with each student; when theory, concept and hours of repetition in their welding booth all come together. I call it the “ ah ha” moment. The lights come on; it all makes sense. It is that look of acknowledgement from the student and the smile they give me, that makes it all worth while. This is the point when I know we were successful.”

“… has a passion for the job and has shown great determination and is always on time, ready for work. Great apprentice who always listens to instruction.”

“The UTIP pressure welding pilot course was extremely successful, as it provided highly skilled tradespeople into our industry. It was a privilege to be apart of this project. We are very proud of the accomplishments the welders and apprentices achieved from the course.”

“(this training) 100% gave me the tools to find employment… if you do the welding, you can take that anywhere…You learn the tools to become better at the trade and then the skills that you learn here they’re transferable. With a program like this, it's designed for you to focus on the task, and it all comes down to how fast you want to excel through it. If you focus and you buckle down and get it done, then you just succeed that much faster.”

“I highly recommend this training, especially to someone in my position, the welding is very different. With this training, I was able to get so many more tickets which will give me better opportunity to provide for my family.”

“I love to weld and I love to learn. If my weld is not okay, I always say ‘show me how to do it’ and I will start again until I get it right. I would like to work not only here, but across Canada. Once I get my qualified from this training, then I will be able to travel for work. Nothing can stop me now.”

“This training is great because you get experience, you get practice time and on top of that you get welding tickets. If I was on the other end, I would sign up for this training 100%. Anybody who wants to have a career in welding, and wants to get better, this is the way to do it. This is about getting better everyday…The sky is the limit with this training, no matter how experienced you are when you enter the training.”

“… seems passionate about his chosen career of being a Boilermaker. His determination and willingness to be better is huge and is eager to learn both general and specific industry skills. While employed with us he has worked on pressure vessels, drums, towers, and exchangers. He is my go-to apprentice and will become an exceptional journeyman welder.”

“She is a very good worker taking all the knowledge given to her. She will make a great welder and member for our local. I support her for any awards she may be eligible for and look forward to working with her again in the future.”

“Great worker, team player and eager to contribute. He is a great asset to our crew.”