Rooted in community.
Built for opportunity.
We help people turn potential into possibility through training, mentorship, meaningful connections and pathways to employment.
29 Roots works alongside participants, employers and community partners to help individuals develop the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to move forward.
29 Roots at a glance
potential is
everywhere.
Opportunity isn’t.
Creating pathways to meaningful employment.
29 Roots is a community-focused workforce development organization connecting people with practical training, mentorship, career development and employment opportunities.
People often need more than training alone. They need exposure, relationships, guidance, confidence and employers willing to give them an opportunity.
That’s where 29 Roots comes in.
We help participants move toward a meaningful next step: employment, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship or continued education.
Strong futures need strong roots.
Roots in Community
People grow stronger when connected to mentors, peers, employers and organizations invested in their success.
Roots in Purpose
Training becomes meaningful when people understand where they’re going and can see a pathway toward a future.
Roots in Opportunity
Skills need somewhere to go. We connect development with employment, apprenticeship and entrepreneurial opportunities.
More than a program.
A pathway forward.
Connect
Connect participants with people, organizations and opportunities.
Train
Build practical, market-relevant skills through hands-on training.
Mentor
Provide coaching and mentorship to build confidence and navigate barriers.
Launch
Move toward employment, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship or continued education.
Training is only
the beginning.
Our programs combine technical skills with the personal support and real-world connections people need to succeed on the job, and to stay there.
Practical Skills
Learning connected to real-world workplace requirements.
Personal Development
Confidence, communication, financial literacy and life skills complement technical training.
Mentorship
People participants can turn to for advice, encouragement and guidance.
Employer Connections
Training connected to employers, apprenticeships and career pathways.
Opportunity should have more than one door.
Individuals
People seeking skills, direction, mentorship and a pathway toward meaningful employment.
Employers
Organizations looking for motivated candidates while helping develop the workforce of tomorrow.
Community Partners
Organizations, educators, funders and agencies working together to create stronger employment pathways.
Programs that create pathways.
Our work is about
what happens next.
Success at 29 Roots isn’t measured by completing a program. It’s measured by the next step a participant takes.
Connecting job-ready participants with employers who are hiring.
Opening doors to the skilled trades and on-the-job learning.
Helping people build businesses and create their own opportunities.
Supporting participants who choose to keep learning and upskilling.
Employers need talent.
Talent needs opportunity.
29 Roots works with employers to help bridge that gap, preparing motivated candidates with the practical skills, workplace readiness and support to succeed.
- Candidate recruitment and hiring
- Apprenticeship opportunities
- Work placements
- Industry mentorship
- Program input
- Employer Townhalls
- Sponsorship and community investment
It takes a community to build a career.
New Partnership: John Howard Society Simcoe & Muskoka
New MOU29 Roots has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the John Howard Society Simcoe & Muskoka to bring our Workforce Integration from Prison Program to the Simcoe & Muskoka region. Together, we will help people returning to the community after incarceration get skilled-trades training, mentorship, employer connections and apprenticeship pathways, starting December 2026.
Government • Employers • Educators • Community Organizations • Funders
People committed to creating opportunity.
Our team brings lived experience, community relationships and practical expertise to every program we deliver.
Michael Laidley
Founder & President
Michael leads the vision for 29 Roots, drawing on years of youth programming, mentorship and violence-prevention work across Toronto.
Ken Gray
Vice-President
Ken guides strategy, marketing and partnership development, helping 29 Roots grow its reach with employers, funders and the community.
Yvonne Togue
Programs Manager
Yvonne keeps our programs running day to day, from participant intake and assessment to coordinating facilitators and partners.
Karen Mighty
Head of Client Advocacy and Wrap-around Supports
Karen leads client advocacy and wrap-around supports, bringing over two decades of equity-focused, trauma-informed social services experience to every participant’s journey.
Your next chapter
can start here.
Whether you’re looking for training, looking for talent, or looking for a way to make an impact, there’s a place for you at 29 Roots.