White to succeed Young as STO CEO

TORONTO — The Ontario government has announced it is appointing Candice White as the new CEO for Skilled Trades Ontario (STO), effective Nov. 25.

White replaces current CEO Melissa Young, who was appointed to the position in January 2022 as STO was launched.

White has 10 years of executive level administration experience, stated a release, including serving as the CAO for multiple municipalities, most recently the Municipality of Port Hope, and on boards of provincial agencies.

“I would like to congratulate Candice White on her appointment as the new CEO of Skilled Trades Ontario,” stated Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini in a statement. “I look forward to Candice leveraging her executive experience within public sector organizations to build upon STO’s successes as we continue to work together to grow our skilled trades workforce and develop world-class training and standards.”

In the statement Piccini thanked Young for her leadership and dedication to building a stronger future for Ontario.

“As a results-oriented change leader, Melissa took the helm of STO as a new organization in its infancy after the lost years of the Ontario College of Trades, bringing our shared vision to life and stands as an inspiration to tradespeople everywhere, especially women.”

White said, “I look forward to working with STO’s board, its talented workforce and tradespeople across Ontario as we continue to modernize service delivery and advance world-class certification standards for the more than 1.3 million registered skilled tradespeople and apprentices, and the countless more Ontarians seeking to start their career in the skilled trades.”

Under Young, STO launched Standards Industry Advisory Committees, Certificates of Qualification and wallet cards for skilled trades professionals, released a strategic plan, initiated research into public perceptions of the trades and established an Exam Support Unit.

Young said prior to the launch of Skilled Trades Ontario, the trades administration system was a “confusing, patchwork system that prevented too many apprentices from pursuing their passion.

“When I took on the helm of STO, my objective was clear, but far from simple: make it easy and exciting to join the skilled trades. To achieve that, we needed to rewrite the system.

“I’m proud of how we have delivered on these objectives over the past three years.”