Join this event promoting women in skilled trades

Are you concerned that only about five per cent of skilled trades workers are women? This event is for you!

The Sault Community Career Centre’s Apprenticeship Support Program teamed up with Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association for a Building a Stronger Workforce: A Women in the Trades event.

This free event aims to inspire and encourage women to pursue skilled trades.

Participants will be offered food, refreshments, and door prizes.

Everyone is welcomed to attend the event, which will take place on Jan. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre.

For more information, read the news release below: 

Did you know that according to Statistics Canada, only about five per cent of skilled trades workers are women? Let’s change that!

The Sault Community Career Centre’s Apprenticeship Support Program, in partnership with the Sault Ste. Marie Construction Association, presents Building a Stronger Workforce: A Women in the Trades event on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Quattro Hotel and Conference Centre.

Join us for an inspirational evening to encourage and promote women in the skilled trades. There will be food, refreshments, and door prizes. While this free event focuses on women in the skilled trades, everyone is welcome to attend.

Our special keynote speaker is Jamie McMillan, founder of KickAss Careers. McMillan is a motivational speaker, journeyman ironworker, apprentice boilermaker, outreach specialist, author, visionary, and advocate for skilled trades, technology, mental health, homelessness, and youth.

McMillan understands the struggle of working in a male-dominated workforce and is on a mission to challenge misconceptions and stereotypes. She became an ironworker in 2002 when women only represented 2 per cent of the workforce across Canada and the United States. In 2019, the Canadian Federal Government appointed Jamie as co-chair of a National Skilled Trades Advisory Committee to promote careers in skilled trades as first-choice pathways for youth.

Through KickAss Careers, McMillan travels extensively every year to provide engaging keynote presentations and workshops to more than 50,000 students, parents, educators and employers across North America. Her efforts have gained international attention for opening doors and minds to the possibilities of well-paid careers in the skilled trades and technology sectors. Jamie will share her inspirational story and speak about the importance of attracting and retaining women in the skilled trades and the challenges they face.

A panel discussion on creating more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplaces will be moderated by Adam Pinder, Executive Director of the Sault Community Career Centre. The event will be hosted by Ashley Pszeniczny, Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with Skills Ontario.

To attend, please register before Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, here. We hope to see you there!

For more information on the event, contact Beth Lacher, manager of specialized programs with the Sault Community Career Centre, at 705.759.0909 ext. 4231 or email [email protected].

For over 30 years, the Sault Community Career Centre has provided free personalized services to help job seekers, employers, and newcomers reach their professional goals.  You can find more information about our services at www.saultcareercentre.ca and by following us on Facebook and Instagram.