SMART Local 285

Another big day at the Canada's Building Trades Unions booth! The Honourable Patty Hajdu Minister of Jobs and Families, and the Honourable John Zerucelli Secretary of State (Labour), stopped by the CBTU booth and picked up the hand seamers to make a sheet metal phone holder with SMART Local 285.

Thanks for taking the time to stop by and hear about the skills in our industry and what our members do every day. 💪⚒️

Today we welcomed the Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State for Labour, to our facility. He toured our training centre and spoke with union officers, staff, instructors, and apprentices about what’s coming for the trades.

Zerucelli highlighted the federal government’s Spring Economic Update, including the $6 billion Team Canada Strong investment aimed at recruiting, training, and hiring 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal skilled trades workers over the next five years. For apprentices, that will include a $400/week top-up during in-class technical training, up to $16,000 per apprentice on top of EI. He also spoke about his connection to the construction industry and what drives his commitment to this work.

Sheet metal workers and gas technicians are part of the solution to Canada’s housing crisis. Local 285 is ready to build it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SMWIA Local 285 Training Centre

Go SMART! Congratulations on second place People's Choice for best booth at Skills Ontario!

Today is the National Day of Mourning.

We remember the workers who went to work and didn't come home. The ones taken by falls, by equipment, by exposure, by conditions that should never have existed. The ones whose names are carried by the people who loved them.

We also stand with those living with the consequences every day. The people whose lives were changed in an instant and are still fighting through it. They are not forgotten.

Every number is a person. Every person left a crew, a family, a community with a hole in it that never fully closes.

SMART Local 285 stands with every worker and every family who has lived that loss. Safety on the job is not optional. We need to stand united and look out for one another out there.

Congratulations to our members who recently passed the 308-A certificate of qualification!
Proud of the work you’ve all put in, great job to all students and SMWIA Local 285 Training Centre

Congratulations to our newest certified Sheet Metal Workers! SMART Local 285 & the Training Centre are proud to recognize these members for successfully passing the 308A Certificate of Qualification Exam. Hard work pays off - well done!

Congratulations to the SMART Local 285 Hockey Team going undefeated in the Threads of Life Hockey Tournament and winning the Championship!

⚽ Toronto FC TICKETS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ⚽

Local 285 has tickets to the Toronto FC vs San Jose Earthquakes game in support of the COBT Hammer Heads Program.

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026
🕐 1:00 PM
📍 BMO Field
Each member can claim up to 4 tickets!
First come, first served.
Call the hall to claim yours: (416) 630-1160

📢 REMINDER – Special Called Membership Meeting

This Wednesday, April 8th, 2026 is our Special Called Membership Meeting for all members. We will also be kicking off the first BBQ of the year!
Please take note of the details below:

📅 Date: Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
⏰ Time: 5:30 PM SHARP
🌭 BBQ: 4:00 PM
📍 Place: Local 285 Union Hall – 234 Attwell Drive, Etobicoke

This is a very important meeting and we trust that every member will make every effort to attend. Your presence matters!

Last week Rocco and Michael presented SickKids Foundation with a cheque for $10,000 on behalf of SMART Local 285 and the members.
We are giving back to the communities we live and work in, and we’re proud to support the incredible work done by SickKids Foundation in caring for children and families across Ontario and beyond.