RBC Foundation Provides Funding Boost to Community Builders
Grant To Support Four Community Builders Locations In Ontario
Providing Skilled Trades Training and Meaningful Employment
(July 15, 2026 – Bracebridge, ON) – Community Builders, the leading construction-based social enterprise in Northern and Central Ontario, today received a $100,000 funding donation from RBC Foundation to support Skilled Trades Training Programs in its four locations – Barrie and Simcoe County, Greater Sudbury, Muskoka, and Sault Ste. Marie. The event was jointly hosted by Brandon Day, Co-founder & CEO, Tami delCarmen, Managing Director of Community Builders Muskoka, and France Thibeault, RBC Regional Vice President, Muskoka North.
RBC Foundation aims to support community investment partners helping to prepare people to enter, grow or reskill for the changing world of work. They look to fund innovative ideas that help people build in-demand skills, gain meaningful work experiences and/or support industry-relevant credentialing, with the goal of helping them to obtain their first job, a better job, or grow within their chosen career. The RBC Foundation’s ambitions dovetail perfectly with the mission of Community Builders.
“At RBC, we believe that investing in people is the most powerful investment we can make in our communities. Community Builders embodies what RBC Foundation looks for in a partner — an organization that meets people where they are, equips them with real, in-demand skills, and opens doors to meaningful careers. With 89% of graduates securing life-changing jobs, the results speak for themselves. We are proud to support an organization tackling two of the most urgent challenges — the shortage of skilled tradespeople and the need for affordable housing — at the very same time,” said France Thibeault, RBC Regional Vice President, Integrated Markets, Muskoka North.
“In 2025, we laid ambitious plans to grow from our original two locations in Barrie and Sudbury by adding two new Training Centres in Muskoka and Sault Ste. Marie,” said Brandon Day, Co-founder and CEO of Community Builders. “Receiving this generous support from RBC Foundation has made a huge difference in allowing us to strengthen the impact of our transformative Skills Training program, helping change the lives of our Trainees through meaningful employment as we support workforce development across Ontario. We are truly grateful.”
The event, hosted in the Bracebridge Training Centre of Community Builders Muskoka, welcomed local social service agencies, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Association, as well as dignitaries from regional town councils and the District of Muskoka.
“Supporting skilled trades in Muskoka is essential to building a strong local workforce,” said Graydon Smith, MPP for Parry Sound–Muskoka. “I want to thank the RBC Foundation for this generous donation, which will help Community Builders train more people, equip them with valuable skills and prepare them for good jobs in our region.”
Jeff Lehman, District Chair of Muskoka, adds his congratulations. “Community Builders are a rare example of a win-win-win…trainees gain skills and overcome barriers, communities gain much-needed new housing projects, and our economy gains badly needed new workers in the skilled trades. I want to thank the RBC Foundation for their investment in this incredible organization, which is growing and making a difference right here in their new Muskoka location.”
The Impact of Community Builders’ Duo-Purpose Organization Since Inception
- $31 million in construction projects were completed, 75% of which were affordable and social housing projects.
- 532+ housing units were renovated, and 160+ new affordable housing units were built in more than 20 communities in Ontario.
- 430+ trainees have completed our paid 12-week training program, with 89% achieving stable employment within 3-6 months of graduation.
- Last year, our trainees were a very diverse group: 54% youth, 50% had some form of disability, 28% visible minorities, 25% women, 19% BIPOC, 16% newcomers to Canada, 13% Indigenous, and 8% 2SLGBTQI+.
“Community Builders continues to connect those who need work with the work that needs doing,” says Executive Director Carly Gasparini. “Our program offers a learning environment for those who want more than just a classroom; it offers a community where they are not only educated in skills but also gain the confidence they need to create a new path for themselves”.
About Community Builders:
Community Builders is a leading social enterprise Contractor in Northern and Central Ontario, working hard to solve two of Canada’s biggest issues: the Affordable Housing Crisis and the Skilled Labour Shortage. This dual-purpose organization is making a difference by building homes while also building futures. Community Builders is a thriving construction company serving Municipal and non-profit housing providers, Charities and non-profits, Property Management companies, General Contractors, and private homeowners. CB provides services in General contracting, labour and sub-trade workforce, project management, renovations, new builds, apartment turnovers, maintenance and service work and more. Its experienced crews focus on building and maintaining affordable housing to high-quality standards. These construction projects fund and support real on-site job training and skills development offered by Community Builder through its 12-week paid Skilled Trades Training programs for individuals with barriers to employment. CB Certified trainees graduate with hands-on construction training, employment readiness skills, safety certifications, tools, and PPE. The program’s effectiveness has been proven: 89% of our graduates secure stable, life-changing jobs after graduation. Community Builders has achieved recognition as a member of the Fair Chances Coalition, Buy Social Canada, and the Better Way Alliance. https://www.communitybuilders.co/
Download the Community Builders 2024-2025 Impact Report from its website: www.communitybuilders.co
