Sarnia-Lambton SkillUp: Youth Ready

Prepare. Train. Work. Build Your Future Locally.

The Sarnia-Lambton SkillUp: Youth Ready program helps local high school students gain the skills and certifications needed to confidently enter the workforce. Delivered in partnership with BASES (Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment and Sustainability), this initiative provides Basic Safety Orientation (BSO) training recognized by regional employers in industrial, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

Open to Grade 11 and 12 Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students on a pathway to work after high school or pursuing post-secondary education locally, this program supports youth in building practical safety knowledge, employability skills, and connections to local career opportunities.

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Program Overview

The Sarnia-Lambton SkillUp: Youth Ready program provides local students with industry-recognized safety training through the Basic Safety Orientation (BSO) course, developed by BASES and the Industrial Educational Co-operative (IEC). This training meets the requirements of Regulation 297/13 – Occupational Health and Safety Awareness and Training, which is mandatory for contractors and building trades workers at local industrial sites.

Through this program, students gain essential knowledge about their workplace rights, including the right to know, refuse, and participate, while learning the importance of due diligence and the internal responsibility system. The course builds a strong foundation in identifying workplace hazards and applying safe work planning practices using tools such as safety boards, toolbox talks, job safety analysis, safe work permits, and TASC cards.

Learners also explore key topics in incident reporting, emergency preparedness, and regional workplace culture, emphasizing respect, inclusion, teamwork, and mental health. The training helps participants understand how to recognize mental health stressors and support co-workers, fostering a safer and more inclusive work environment.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

In-person Basic Safety Orientation (BSO) training delivered by BASES in Sarnia
Certification valid for three years and recognized by BASES member sites
Builds awareness of safe work practices, hazard recognition, and workplace rights
Emphasizes teamwork, inclusion, and mental health in the workplace
Includes 3.5 hours of e-learning followed by one in-class session at the BASES Training Office, located at the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park, 1086 Modeland Road, Sarnia, ON

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

Participants will:

Understand their legal rights and responsibilities at work
Learn how to identify and control workplace hazards
Apply due diligence and the internal responsibility system
Use practical safety tools such as toolbox talks, job safety analyses, and safe work permits
Strengthen teamwork, respect, and inclusion
Recognize mental health stressors and learn how to support co-workers
Receive a Basic Safety Orientation certificate valid for three years

APPLICATION DETAILS

Who Should Apply:

Students in Grade 11 or 12 enrolled in a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program or planning to enter local employment or attend Lambton College after graduation.
This program is free for selected students. Limited to 25 participants.

Important Dates:

Applications open: November 12 to December 2, 2025
Notification of successful applicants: December 16, 2025
Completion of e-learning modules by successful applicants: January 6 to February 12, 2026
Half-day in-person training at the BASES office: February 18, 2026

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We require contact information of the participant's teacher, guidance counsellor, or SHSM coordinator as part of this application. Please ensure this information is ready before completing the application form.
Once accepted, participants must complete a mandatory e-learning module prior to attending the in-person Basic Safety Orientation (BSO) training session.
Full attendance is required to receive certification. Students who miss the in-person session or fail to complete the e-learning prerequisite will not be eligible for the BSO certificate.
Students should bring valid photo identification on the training day. All learning materials will be provided.

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Sarnia-Lambton SkillUp: Youth Ready is brought to you by the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, with training delivered by the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability (BASES).

Please be advised that the complimentary training and certification are only available for 25 student participants. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Cari Meloche, Economic Development Officer of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership at cari@sarnialambton.on.ca or reach out to your local SHSM school lead or guidance counsellor for more information.