BuildHER Future (BHF) – Newcomer Women in Construction

BuildHER Future (BHF) – Newcomer Women in Construction is a free skills and career development program funded by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) through the Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program.

The program is designed to support internationally educated professional women with backgrounds in:

• Engineering
• Architecture
• Construction
• Computer Science
• Information Technology
• Finance
• Project Management
• Other technical or professional fields

The program helps participants advance their careers in Ontario’s construction sector through:

• Industry-specific training
• Leadership development
• Employment readiness support
• Experiential learning opportunities

Program Overview

• Cost: Free
• Delivery: Hybrid or Virtual
• Duration: 16 weeks
• Application: Ongoing – Apply as soon as possible
• Cohorts: Three cohorts are offered annually. The second cohort of 2026 will begin on July 31, 2026, with an orientation session for participants. To register for the orientation session, please click here.

Micro-Credentials

Participants will receive the following micro-credentials delivered in collaboration with educational partners:

Schulich Executive Education, York University

• Project Management in Construction

Humber Polytechnic

• Health & Safety
• Sustainable Building Practices
• Construction Project Coordination

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Self-identify as a woman (18+)
• Currently reside in Ontario
• Hold international education credentials (degree, diploma, or apprenticeship) in engineering, architecture, construction, IT, finance, project management, or a related field
• Have a minimum of two years of professional experience outside Canada
• Have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 or higher
• Hold one of the following immigration statuses:
  • Canadian Citizen
  • Permanent Resident
  • Temporary Resident with a valid work permit
  • Person granted refugee status in Canada with a valid work permit

The application process is currently open.

To register for the program, please click here.