Women in Trades

I am in Williams Lake this week (Aug 2-7), then Quesnel (Aug 9-14), Fort St James (Aug 17-21) and wrapping it up at the Bulkley Valley Exhibition in Smithers (Aug 25-28).  Check out the calendar for more details and map location for each community.

Also ladies, just a reminder the government is funding focus groups around the province this summer to help gain understanding and wisdom from you lady tradies out there. LOCATIONS: Victoria – August 30, Campbell River – August 31, Prince George area– September 7, Terrace/Kitimat/Prince Rupert – September 8.  Send me a message for contact info. mailto:audrey@sheworksshplays.ca

Hello ladies. I am on home turf right now on Vancouver Island for a couple weeks and then back on the saddle again (yes, I consider my Kenworth my loyal steed!) heading to Williams Lake, Quesnel and Smithers in August. Just heard of this awesome opportunity for women to share their stories and help shape programs for other women. It is government funded and they are looking for journey/apprectice level females. Contact me if you want a flyer with details. Audrey

 
FOCUS GROUPS are being conducted across four regions of BC to gain a better understanding of the workplace characteristics and challenges facing women working in the trades. Input from the focus groups will provide the opportunity to design services to increase the hiring and retention of tradeswomen.
LOCATIONS: Kelowna – July 19, Kamloops – July 21, Vancouver – August 4, Port Coquitlam – August 5, Victoria – August 30, Campbell River – August 31..., Prince George – September 7, Terrace / Kitimat – September 8

BC Hydro and BC Chamber of Commerce are hosting Business-to-Business Networking Sessions in northern BC communites.  Do you run your own business?  Remember there will be a wide variety of work involved with the project creating thousands of jobs.  Everything from cooks to carpenters, safety personnel to electricians, cleaning staff to machine operators. There will be two huge camps once fully underway. Sessions are scheduled starting January 25 in Fort St. John, then Dawson Creek on the 26th, Chetwynd on the 27th, Prince George on February 2nd and Quesnel on February 3d. Click here for more info.  

The BC Chamber of Commerce and BC Hydro are hosting job fairs and business-to-business networking sessions in the Peace region next week.  Tumbler Ridge October 5th, Chetwynd October 6th and Fort St. John October 7th. Check out this BC Hydro link for more details.  The Site C project will create thousands of jobs and now, while it is in its beginning stages, is the perfect time to get involved!

LADIES, GRAB YOUR RESUMES AND GO FOR IT!

Check out this fantastic article by the Journal of Commerce.  It is packed with resources for funding.  Everything from the new Canada Apprenticeship Loan that can provide individuals registered in a Red Seal program with $4,000 in interest-free funds to up to $16,400 in non-repayable grants for studying in-demand trades such as heavy duty mechanic, carpentry, sheet metal, gas fitting, heavy equipment operation, iron work, and industrial mechanics.

I have met women working in ALL the trades named above in the the last month alone. GO FOR IT GIRLS, YOU CAN DO IT. 

This picture was taking three months after I completed my class 1 driver training course a decade ago.  It was a tough way to start; snow plowing the Gold River Highway when it was snowing so hard sometimes I coudn't tell where the middle of the road was, but I was instantly making $25 an hour.  If I can do it, so can you!

Thank you Lisa Perry for an awesome segment on CTV Island News.  Check it out here. 

AWESOME: AN ACTION PLAN TO ENCOURAGE AND RETAIN MORE WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY.  In this article, the Canadian Association of Women in Construction has embarked on a 36 month project supported with $249,000 of federal funding.  At the symposium there was a panel addressing the issues and concerns facing women, as well as looking towards the future and what can be done.  I like the president of Anchor Shoring & Caissons Ltd.'s  Dawn Tattle with her words "I think one of the big secrets...is humour and having a thick skin."  I can relate. If you keep things on a lighter side rather than get defensive or offended while on the job site, it helps.  As well, to me having a tough skin means you accept that everyone, male or female, faces challenges on the work site and you find a way to let go of the fear that what happens, the challenges you face or what goes wrong happens because you are female. We tend to be sensitive, which makes us great employees, but we can take it to heart too much.  Audrey

Being a woman working in a non-traditional job is not easy.  That is just the truth.  It can be awesome, and it can be so empowering and the sense of independence is amazing.  However, pretending there are not challenges is being naive. The low percentage of women working in industry and trades speaks the truth (although the numbers are increasing steadily!).  In this article, ironworker and welder Jamie McMillan is doing something about one of those challenges. It is a campaign to help raise awareness of lack of childcare options and flexible hours.  I can relate. I was fortunate enough to start my work in the trades when my children were older and more independent.  Work in industry and trades can mean crazy long unpredictable hours.  It was not uncommon for me to do 10, 12 or 14 hour days (particularly in the snow plow when it just wouldn't stop snowing!).  Often jobs are not on schedules, you finish when the job is done.  When pouring concrete, I couldn't just say "Sorry guys, we can't finish pouring your driveway. I need to get to daycare!" 

Hats off to you Jamie for doing something about the issue!! This photo is Jamie in action.

Check out this link from Canadian Forests website for a great display of a variety of forestry positions, including many for BC as well as Vancouver Island.

Being a small town Vancouver Island born and raised girl, it is exciting to me when women are being encouraged and supported locally. I know from personal experience it can be intimidating and challenging to enter a non-traditional job position. However, if you are a woman who likes to be hands-on, it is incredibly empowering and liberating, not to mention lucrative, to get into industry or trades.  Read this from the B.C. government Newsroom for some great links of programs and resources. We are Everywhere Doing Everything. The photo is me, Audrey, running a concrete truck, which I did for the same company for 8 years. If I can do it, so can you.