Q&A with ILEO Construction Union Pathways Program participant, Khalid Geada
In April 2025, ILEO launched the Construction Union Pathways Program, which aims to provide a new pool of labour in the construction industry and create a sustainable workforce for underrepresented individuals living in the Greater Golden Mile and Greater Weston Mount Dennis through employment training, mentorship and work placement opportunities.
Khalid Geada is one of 47 participants in the program and is pursuing a career path in Electrical Construction and Maintenance. Read more about Khalid’s experience below.
What interests you most about working in the skilled trades, and your chosen trade in particular?
Khalid Geada: What I really like about the skilled trades is how hands-on everything is. I’ve always been the type of person who learns better by doing it, and I like seeing the actual results of my work at the end of the day. I chose Electrician Construction and Maintenance because it just clicked . For me it’s challenging in a good way, and there’s a lot of variety, so it doesn’t get boring. Plus, there’s always something new to learn, and working with electrical systems feels like solving a puzzle every day.
What are your career aspirations, and how do you see the skilled trades training fitting into those goals?
Khalid Geada: Right now, I’m focused on learning as much as I can in this pre-apprenticeship program and getting myself ready to apply for an apprenticeship. Long-term, I’d love to become a licensed electrician, get my Red Seal, and maybe even start my own business one day. The pre-apprenticeship is giving me the foundation I need. It’s helping me build the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take that next step toward my career goals.
How has the ILEO Construction Union Pathways Program changed your career prospects?
Khalid Geada: Honestly, it’s been a game changer. Before this, I didn’t really know how to get into the trades or what the steps even were. The program broke everything down and gave me not just the knowledge, but also the confidence to go after this path. It also connected me with people in the industry, which has made a big difference.
If you hadn’t taken this program, what do you think you’d be doing?
Khalid Geada: That’s a tough one. I was kind of stuck before I found the program – I was working odd jobs, not really sure what direction to go in. I probably would’ve still been doing that if I hadn’t come across this. So yeah, it kind of feels like I got lucky at the right time.
What did you find most valuable about the program?
Khalid Geada: For me, it was support and guidance. I didn’t have a clear idea of how to get started in the trades. The program laid it all out and actually cared about making sure we succeeded. The way the instructors broke things down was huge for me. It made everything feel possible.
About the ILEO Construction Union Pathways Program
The ILEO Construction Union Pathways Program provides pre-employment training delivered by community agencies, trades training delivered by unions, mentorship, and work placements on construction sites across the region.
The aim of this project is to provide a new pool of labour in the construction industry and create a sustainable workforce by reducing barriers for underrepresented individuals.
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
About the ILEO Initiative
To learn more about how United Way Greater Toronto, BMO and other private, public and community partners are working together to ensure the benefits of this development flow to existing residents check out the Inclusive Local Economic Opportunity Initiative (ILEO).