About Us

Background:

Threshold School of Building is a registered charity that was incorporated in 2001. We are dedicated to practical and sustainable community development in the Hamilton area. We teach basic building skills and organize active participation in affordable housing and community projects.

Threshold’s activities fall into 3 primary areas:

1. Ready To Work (RTW) – an intensive 12 week construction trade program that includes job-site experience and support for at-risk and marginalized youth aged 15-30;
2. General Home Maintenance (GHM) – an affordable 9 week program that teaches the general public methods of home repair in order to maintain their own homes; and,
3. Threshold Construction Program – a new social enterprise employing RTW graduates and specializing in custom deck, fence and shed construction.

Successes to Date:

• Trained and mentored over 250 new construction and mechanical trade workers
• Delivered 40 community building projects for local charities, non-profits and neighbourhood associations.
• Trained over 630 new and existing homeowners in hands-on basic home maintenance techniques
• Partnered with HOAP (Home Owner Affordability Partnership) to renovate houses for lower income families and to provide them with home maintenance training
• Partnered with Hamilton HomeStart (mortgage assistance program) to provide participants with home maintenance training
• Partnered with YWCA to deliver three “Women in the Trades” training and mentoring programs
• Partnered with the Hamilton Community Foundation to deliver “Growing Roots…Strengthening Neighbourhoods”, a community beautification project
• Partnered with Banyan Non-Profit Management Services to construct new cabins and other facilities for a children’s camp north of Peterborough
• Logged over 5000 volunteer hours at various community building projects
• Highlighted as a success story in Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (2008)

To date we have delivered thirteen Ready to Work programs for Service Canada through the Youth-Skills-Link Project. As well, we have delivered many other specialized Ready to Work programs for the United Way, Hamilton Community Foundation and Six Nations.

Board of Directors (2010-2011):

Administrative Staff:

Teaching Staff: