August 23, 2012 – The second annual National Tradesmen Day will be held on Friday, September 21, 2012, and Irwin Tools encourages all Canadians to make plans to recognize Canada’s tradesmen: the men and women who are the backbone of our nation.

“The country’s skilled craftsmen should be proud of their incredible skills and talents.  And they deserve to be recognized for their hard work, which is often performed in difficult environments under stressful conditions,” says Irwin.

National Tradesmen Day—started by Irwin last year and held each year on the third Friday in September—is a day when the company would like us to pause and thank skilled workers like electricians and others who help keep Canada running.

“It’s vitally important that we say thanks and find ways to encourage skilled trades as valuable career choices for young people,” says the company. “Without these hard-working men and women, Canada’s infrastructure and our way of life would come to a screeching halt.”

Irwin says the Construction Sector Council projects that, over the next eight years, there will be a shortfall of 156,000 skilled workers across the country, driven primarily by expected retirements. Between 2012 and 2020, 219,000 workers are expected to retire, and not all of these jobs will be filled through expected workforce growth, Irwin reports.

This year, Irwin is coordinating multiple activities throughout the nation and is partnering with retailers and community groups for National Tradesmen Day celebrations. The company also offers some ideas Canadians can use to show their appreciation of skilled tradesmen:

• Call your favourite handyman and simply say “Thanks for all you do”.
• Share the video below with tradesmen you know and say thanks.
• Stop by a local jobsite where tradesmen are working and leave a box of donuts or cookies.
• Buy a tradesman a cup of coffee.
• If your friend, husband, wife, daughter or son is a tradesman, make September 21 an extra special day for them.
• Support trade schools that train future tradesmen, and urge governments to adopt workforce development policies for skilled trades.
• Talk with your children about the endless career opportunities in a skilled trade, and visit Skills Canada (http://www.skillscanada.com) to learn more about a national organization serving teachers, high school and college students preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations.

For more information about National Tradesmen Day, visit www.nationaltradesmenday.com