By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
“You never get bored.”
That’s what second-year apprentice Stella Beesley has to say about her job as a millwright in Ontario.
“I really like how it’s different every day,” the 23 year old told The Voice. “I like to be able to look at a problem and learn how to fix the issue … I feel like I’ve learned how to fix so many things and I can even work on my own car.”
Beesley, a member of Local 1244, was on hand last week at Chatham-Kent’s Workforce Week Job Fair, helping man the Millwright Regional Council booth. The council covers the area from Windsor to Wallaceburg.
Beesley, who after high school worked for CN Rail, saw an ad on social media for millwright apprentices. She applied, and the rest is history.
“The only experience I had when I applied was my experience on the railroad where I was building the rails,” she explained. “I didn’t have any manufacturing experience, but I applied in 2024 at a time when they were taking in a lot of apprentices.”
Beesley likes what she’s seen so far. She’s worked at a variety of jobs including installing machinery at the NextStar Energy battery plant in Windsor.
“I learned how to weld and fabricate at that job,” she added. “I was able to get my welding tickets through the union.”
A millwright is a skilled tradesperson who installs, maintains, troubleshoots, and repairs industrial machinery and mechanical equipment, such as conveyors, pumps, and presses. A first-year apprentice starts at around $30 an hour, which rises to $50 an hour when the apprenticeship is complete. The three-to-four-year apprenticeship includes 7,280 hours of on-the-job training, 720 hours of in-school training, as well passing a certification exam at the end.
“I wanted to do a trade that was more hands-on and I like doing precision work” she added.
As for being female in a traditionally male role, Beesley said it can be “challenging,” but women are continuing to make headway.
“But it’s definitely getting better and this union is good about hiring women,” she said. “They’re making strides.”
For anyone looking to become a millwright – male or female – Beesley said it’s important to get as much relevant experience as you can prior to applying.
But she admits it can be “tough” to get in.
“You have to keep applying over and over,” she said, noting you have to meet people and make connections.
Her comments are echoed by third-year apprentice Jesse Van Belle. Van Belle completed a B.A. at Brock University and worked in manufacturing in Leamington before applying to become an apprentice millwright.
Van Belle, 28, said he has no regrets.
“We have fun at work and we do good work,” he explained, stressing the key to success in an apprenticeship is a willingness to learn.
The millwright booth was among 80 employer booths at the John D. Bradley Centre March 4, marking the municipality’s third annual job fair. According to C-K employment and social services manager Matt Keech, the event set an attendance record, drawing 2,040 jobseekers.
Keech said some 400 jobs were available at the fair, ranging from trade unions to health care to agriculture to non-profits and more.
“There’s really something for everyone,” Keech said. “Some people are looking for a career change and some people are looking for a career – you’re going to find it here.”
As for finding an apprenticeship, Keech admitted that it can be “tricky,” noting prospects need to market themselves and work with a program like C-K Jobs.
“Employers that are here, they’re vetting you,” he added. “They’re looking for a certain maturity, reliability and so on. Sometimes you need a stepping stone opportunity first to get your foot in the door.”
According to Keech, the local job rate is faring better than expected. As of November 2025, the unemployment rate in Chatham-Kent was 5.7 per cent. In January of this year, the rate for Ontario was 7.9 per cent.
“It’s a perplexing job market,” Keech stated, noting that while tariffs have impacted some businesses, many are still going strong.
“There are significant opportunities,” he said.
