Mr. Yorke, former president of the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario, has over 25 years of experience in Ontario’s unionized construction industry. The Council represents over 30,000 members. As president, he has extensive knowledge of collective bargaining and arbitration issues and is involved in numerous political, community and training initiatives. Mr. Yorke has a solid background in workplace health and safety issues, from both training and site representation perspectives. He is a strong community supporter of outreach to “youth at risk” training programs with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) highly regarded CHOICE and CRAFT programs and he played an active role on the Local 27 College of Carpenters and Allied Trades Board of Directors for many years. Mr. Yorke is the former co- chair on the City of Toronto Youth Employment Action Plan (YEAP) Advisory Committee. He sits as an editorial advisory board member of the Daily Commercial News.
Mr. Yorke is also former board member of the Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS). He is also a recipient of the Wood Works Ontario Wood Champion Award in 2016, and the Harry Jerome award for Diversity in 2018.
He holds certificates in labour studies from George Brown College and human resources management from Ryerson University. Board Member of Scarborough Health Network Foundation, Capital Campaign Committee Member Sunnybrook Hospital. He has completed all requirements for Certificates of Apprenticeship and Qualifications as “General Carpenter” at George Brown College. Received the Arbour Award – University of Toronto 2018.