Building Stronger Futures
Tradespeople are the cornerstone of our communities.
They build our homes, our roads, our hospitals, our schools, our shops, our communities.
But Canada is struggling with a historic labour shortage and mental health challenges, and construction is one of the hardest-hit industries.
An aging workforce, lack of training spaces, and a long-standing societal bias against trades work must be overcome. The ICBA Foundation is a new charity dedicated to opening doors to the exciting world of opportunities offered by a career in the trades. The ICBA Foundation helps trades apprentices get their Red Seal designation and supports mental wellness in construction. It will build on ICBA’s half-century of work with the trades, our position as the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in British Columbia, and ICBA’s award-winning mental wellness program.
We believe in training excellence, supporting mental health, and developing the next generation of tradespeople. In short, the ICBA Foundation is Building Stronger Futures.
How We Help
The ICBA Foundation, founded with a $3 million endowment from ICBA, is wholly dedicated to supporting people pursuing a career in the trades and improving mental health in construction.
With more than 4,500 members and clients, ICBA is the largest construction association in Canada, and we could not have made this contribution without the strong support of our members. ICBA is the largest sponsor of trades apprentices in BC, including women and Indigenous apprentices.
Remove barriers to trades training
Support people pursuing a career in the trades by removing barriers to accessing education through bursaries and scholarships
Address skills shortage
Advance trades training through building awareness for and inspiring people to pursue a career in the trades
Wellness in construction
Support the award-winning ICBA Wellness program and other vital mental health initiatives for people working in construction
Bursaries
This year, the ICBA Foundation will provide more than $200,000 in bursaries to apprentices, as they complete each of the levels in their Red Seal training. Apprentices are eligible for up to $1,500 in bursaries each. Learn more about our apprenticeship support here.
Wellness
ICBA’s award-winning ICBA Wellness program has helped more than 100 companies and 15,000 workers break the stigma around mental health, with practical resources, toolbox talks, and speakers – all designed for construction. Learn more about our ICBA Wellness program here.
Our Other ICBA Initiatives
Scholarships
ICBA endowed nearly $400,000 to provide scholarships at 16 British Columbia post-secondary institutions to support students entering trades training programs. Endowments are held at post-secondary institutions across the province that deliver trades training.
Beedie Luminaries
ICBA partners with Beedie Luminaries to support students entering BCIT to pursue a Red Seal designation. Over the first five years of the program, the BUILD scholarship fund will assist more than 285 students, distributing upwards of $5.5 million. ICBA connects each student with an employer for their apprenticeship.
Hochstein Fellowship
Funded with a million-dollar endowment from ICBA in 2018, the Philip Hochstein Fellowship, named in honour of ICBA’s former president, recognizes a member of the SFU Beedie School of Business faculty who has had significant achievements in the study of free trade, open markets and economic growth.
$3M
ICBA’s initial endowment to the ICBA Foundation
2,500+
ICBA apprentices in B.C. and Alberta
$200,000
Annual bursaries provided to ICBA apprentices
$1.4M
Endowed at post-secondary institutions across the province
#1
ICBA sponsors more apprentices in B.C. than any other group
About ICBA
The Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA), the largest construction association in Canada, represents more than 4,500 open shop members and clients. ICBA is a leading provider of group health and retirement benefits, supporting nearly 300,000 Canadians.
ICBA is the single largest sponsor of trades apprentices in B.C., with more than 2,500, and #1 for both Indigenous and female apprentices.
To mark our 50th anniversary in spring 2025, ICBA launched the ICBA Foundation, endowing it with $3 million, to fund bursaries and other supports for people entering the trades, and breaking the stigma around mental health in construction. With more than 4,500 members and clients, ICBA is the largest construction association in Canada, and we could not have made this contribution without the strong support of our members.
100% of donations received by the ICBA Foundation will be directed to their designated purpose, thanks to ICBA’s commitment to funding operating costs of the Foundation.
The ICBA Foundation, incorporated in fall 2024, is a registered not-for-profit association in B.C. and a separate entity from ICBA and ICBA Benefits. Stay tuned for more information on the Foundation and how you can make a difference in construction.
How You Can Help
Get In Touch
ICBA Foundation
800 – 13761 96th Avenue
Surrey BC
Email: info@icbafoundation.ca
Toll-free: 1.800.663.2865
Local: 604.298.7795