Focus on a career path that matches your skills and interests while gaining hands-on experience with a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program through the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB). You'll gain valuable skills on the job from employers, skills training centres, and school during exploration activities through co-op placements and field trips.
Through experiential learning, course work, and training and certifications, you'll gain a specialization in a specific industry sector. You'll build real-world connections through your course work to your industry of interest. Stand out in future applications for bursaries and scholarships.
Getting started
Please contact Justin St. Pierre at 519-255-3200 ext. 10333, or any GECDSB Secondary School guidance department to find out how register.
If you're a Grade 11 or 12 student in any pathway (apprenticeship, college, university, or workplace) you can register for an SHSM program in your school. You can indicate your interest in a program as early as grade 9 by logging into My Blueprint and using the SHSM planner tool under the High School Tab. If you complete all program requirements by graduation, you will earn a red seal on your Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Explore the majors
Each major includes eight to 10 courses, certification and training, and co-operative work experiences related to the selected field. You'll take part in Reach Ahead Experiences that connect will connect you to post-secondary plans. This can include tours of post-secondary institutions and industry, presentations from professionals within this sector. You'll learn Essential Skills and Workplace Habits through an online program and co-op placements, and gain valuable industry certifications, including first aid, CPR qualifications and more.
Agriculture |
The SHSM-Agriculture empowers you with a foundation of sector knowledge and skills before you graduate. As one of the world's agri-food trading leaders that exports more agri-food products than we import, you'll learn how to join a growing industry and start your successful career in agriculture. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand agricultural careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Arts and Culture |
An arts education will challenge you to think critically and to solve problems creatively. Arts and culture are essential in the new global economy. In the past decade, the culture sector labour force grew by 31 per cent, compared to a growth rate of 20 per cent for Canada's overall labour force. These skills that are in high demand. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Aviation and Aerospace |
The ever-changing nature of aviation and aerospace, the complexity of supply chain dynamics, and the accelerated pace of change in the aerospace sector provide a variety of career opportunities for Ontario students. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand aviation and aerospace careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Business |
Due to globalization and new technology, the business sector offers many opportunities. Whether you join one of Canada's prospering companies or step out on your own as an entrepreneur, you'll be joining a thriving element of Canada's economy. Over a third of Canada's workforce is employed in trade and commerce, finance and insurance, administration and support, and real estate and leasing. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Construction |
There are four categories of work in the construction industry that require the use of different equipment and workers with a variety of skills. A SHSM graduate could start their career in:
In Ontario, around 60,000 workers will be needed to replace retirees who are taking essential skills with them. An additional 75,000 workers will be needed to fill positions related to new construction. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Environment |
Environment Careers Organization Canada states that environmental employment Includes these sectors of the economy:
Employment in the environment sector is booming and existing labour shortages in this sector are expected to increase Canada's goals regarding climate change come into effect according to industry experts. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Health and Wellness |
The need for health and wellness professionals will increase as current employees are near retirement age and as our population ages, the demands on the health care sector will rise. According to Canada's Health Care System, around 1.6 million people work in health care and social services in a variety of careers, making it the nation's third largest employer. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Horticulture and Landscaping |
The Horticulture and landscaping sector is growing rapidly because of residential and commercial construction activity. There will be a great demand and entrepreneurial opportunities for skilled professionals over the coming years. The need for management and maintenance of local parks and botanical and heritage gardens, sports grounds, and construction of domestic gardens is growing. There is also a rising consumer demand for outdoor recreation, environmental sustainability, and eco-tourism. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Hospitality and Tourism |
Careers in tourism provide many opportunities for advancement, widely transferable skills, and ongoing training, which can be applied to over 400 occupations across five sub-sectors, including:
Tourism industries are an important employment sector that accounts for 1.6 million jobs. Between now and 2025, spending on tourism goods and services in Canada is expected to grow to $201 billion. It is estimated that 219,000 tourism jobs will go unfilled because of declining birth rates and an aging workforce. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Information and Communication Technology |
The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) processes information using electronic systems, which continues to transform our economy and everyday life. Core industries in this sector include:
Many sectors include design and development, sales and marketing, security, training, and maintenance and repair. The total number of ICT workers is on the rise according to Industry Canada and are well compensated. They earn 46 per cent more than the economy-wide average. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Justice, Emergency Services and Community Safety |
Ontario has rigorous community safety legislation. Since 9/11, governments, NGOs, and private enterprise have enhanced their efforts to ensure public safety and security. With these efforts, there has been many new programs and staffing increases within the sector. With the sector's low rates of unemployment (0.4 per cent for police officers and firefighters) and future retirement rates, this offers excellent prospects for employment. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Manufacturing |
The manufacturing sector and its production of consumer and industrial goods are essential for Ontario's prosperity. The sector accounts for a great number of jobs and contributes 15 per cent of gross domestic product. The sector is undergoing fundamental change. There are opportunities regarding skills development and human resource issues across the sectors within Canadian manufacturing. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Non-profit |
The non-profit sector includes a dynamic, engaging and rewarding range of careers. Around 1.2 million people or 7 per cent of Canada's workforce work for 69,000 non-profit organizations nationwide. Many different career paths are available to you if you share the sector's common vision: to make a difference. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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Transportation |
Transportation systems move materials to manufacturers and finished products to consumers across the world. Not only vital to our daily lives and commutes, transportation and transportation systems are an important area of employment in our economy. There is a high demand for qualified personnel as employment in this sector has steadily grown. Learn skills and gain experience for in-demand careers including:
Build your career through a bundle of Grade 11 and 12 courses:
Gain sector-recognized certification and training that can include:
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