Labour and wages ·
ACQ says Montreal construction careers camp drew more than 400 participants
By Workvado / Litequo LLC · Published · Updated
The Oct. 24–25 event offered hands-on trade exploration, with the association reporting 17% women among attendees.
The Association de la construction du Québec reported on Oct. 26 that more than 400 people attended its Montreal Camp des métiers Construction during the preceding weekend. The free event ran Oct. 24–25 at the École des métiers de la construction de Montréal. ACQ said women made up 17% of participants. The camp invites attendees to try construction tasks and learn about trade careers; it is an outreach and career-exploration event, not a formal apprenticeship intake or a promise of employment.
The association’s 2026 tour brings the camp to multiple regions and training centres. Its Montreal stop followed events in Drummondville and other Quebec locations, with further stops scheduled in November and December. The public program page says the camp is free and that meals, boots, helmets and safety glasses are provided. It lists several trade demonstrations across the tour, including steel, construction and building occupations. These practical features lower some participation barriers for people who have not previously handled trade tools or visited a training centre.
ACQ also says Greater Montreal could face an average shortage of about 9,800 construction workers per year over the next four years. That is the association’s forecast, not an independently measured count of current vacancies. A short camp cannot address a projected workforce gap by itself, but it can expose potential recruits to job tasks and help them decide whether to pursue training. Conversion into hiring depends on follow-up guidance, admissions capacity, employer demand, certification requirements and the availability of paid entry-level opportunities.
For contractors, recruitment events can be useful when linked to a clear pathway from introduction to site work. Employers can identify which roles are currently hard to fill, provide accurate descriptions of wages and schedules, and explain the prerequisites for training. They can also offer job-shadowing or pre-apprenticeship opportunities where appropriate. Without a next step, a positive event may build awareness without creating a measurable hiring pipeline. Tracking referrals, applications, training enrolments and eventual placements helps determine which outreach formats are useful.
The reported 17% women participation figure is an attendance share, not a measure of women’s representation in the workforce, apprenticeship completion or retention. A meaningful inclusion strategy has to continue after the event through safe, respectful worksites, access to properly fitting protective equipment, mentoring and consistent responses to harassment. ACQ’s camp webpage notes an agreement with Les Elles de la construction to provide support to participants. Contractors can build on that kind of support by assigning accountable contacts and making expectations clear to supervisors and crews.
For training providers, the camp creates an opportunity to connect hands-on exposure with credential information. Participants need to understand how to apply, what prerequisites exist, how apprenticeships are structured and what costs or supports may be available. Employers can coordinate with centres to describe real project schedules and the safety culture expected on site. A structured follow-up can turn interest into applications while respecting that a participant may choose a different trade or career after exploring options.
The Oct. 26 update records attendance and demographic information from a two-day event. It does not report how many attendees later enrolled or found employment. Contractors and workforce planners should treat the numbers as an outreach snapshot and look for follow-up outcome data before estimating labour-supply impact. The immediate practical value is an accessible recruitment touchpoint that can be connected to specific training and entry-level jobs.
- Montreal camp dates
- October 24–25, 2026
- Reported attendance
- More than 400 participants
- Women among attendees
- 17%, according to ACQ
- ACQ regional shortage forecast
- Average 9,800 workers/year over next 4 years
Sources
- Un accueil des plus vibrants à Montréal pour le Camp des métiers Construction, Association de la construction du Québec / CNW, read October 27, 2026
- Camp des métiers Construction, Association de la construction du Québec, read October 27, 2026
- Labour market outlook for the construction industry, Commission de la construction du Québec, read October 27, 2026