Skilled trades event looks to grow interest among young girls
As the country faces a shortage in workers when it comes to qualified trades workers, Georgian College is looking to help find at least one solution.
Together with Skills Ontario, the college hosted a free-to-attend Skilled Trade & Technology Event on Saturday for young women in grades 7 and 8.
“You think about the stigmas. You think about it being a male-dominated industry. You think about it as careers that if you’re not bound to go to university, then this is your only other option, but that’s not the case,” said Lindsay Chester of Skills Ontario.
“There was a young girl that was here and she was practicing the soldering and she looks over at me and says this is fun but I loved the electrical,” said Marjorie Cook of Georgian College.
Skills Ontario emphasizes that representation matters, which is why Professional female welders, carpenters and more were on hand to speak to the young girls.
“It’s important to show these young women that there is diversity within the skilled trades and that if it’s something that they want to do, they should be encouraged to consider it,” said Cook.
“It’s an opportunity for them to explore in a fun and safe environment what the skilled trades are. What they really are and to see that they are in fact, something that are meant for anybody and everyone, especially women,” added Chester.
This opportunity provided a chance to show young women what they can do rather than some of the comments some of the organizers said they’d heard over the years.
“Oh, that’s dirty work, or it’s just for men. You wouldn’t like doing that,” recalls Cook.
The event was geared towards elementary school girls so that when they get to high school, they can navigate picking classes with a different perspective.
“If we can get this information out at a younger age, they can start seeing that there are not two options. There’s three or four or more,” said Chester.
“I think it’s just education. Right now, we really are in a shortage for skilled trades, and typically, a lot of people think it’s a man’s trade,” pointed out Cook.
This was the first chance to build on the inaugural event following the pandemic, with this first taking place in 2019. Organizers said it was eye-opening for parents and participants and hoped to make it an annual event.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.