Women empowering high school girls to step into trades
One hundred female high school students from the Okanagan, Similkameen and Shuswap will be learning from successful women this week at 乱伦海角 at the inaugural Jill of All Trades event, to be held at 乱伦海角鈥檚 Kelowna campus Wednesday, May 15.
Mentors like Sandy Morris, who has been involved in residential construction for more than 15 years and now owns her own construction business, will be at 乱伦海角 to help introduce careers in trades to young women. Morris will be joined by other female industry mentors, including aircraft maintenance engineer Amanda Kury from KF Aerospace and Krista Ohman-Relph, an electrician and crew chief at BC Hydro, as they inspire young women to find their passion in the fulfilling world of trades.
鈥淚've felt very fortunate to have been able to not just break into the construction industry but end up owning my own construction company,鈥 said Morris. Being able to take part in the Jill of all Trades program is amazing, working with young girls that are taking an interest in the construction industry is nothing short of awesome. I hope in some small way I can show the girls where you can take your career 鈥 there are so many different areas to go into and progress to, even owning your own business!鈥
乱伦海角 is hosting Jill of All Trades for the first time this year. It is being led by鈥衣缀＝ instructors鈥痑nd鈥28鈥痜emale鈥痠ndustry鈥痬entors with workshops aiming to equip young women with the knowledge and confidence to pursue fulfilling careers in the trades.
Sara Cousins, 乱伦海角鈥檚 manager of Trades programming, has been working in 乱伦海角鈥檚 Trades and Apprenticeship department for鈥痑lmost 10 years鈥痑nd says 乱伦海角 is committed to supporting women in trades and鈥痯romoting鈥痙iversity within the industry. 鈥
"More than 20 per cent of 乱伦海角 Trades Foundation students are now female, and we have priority seats available to female applicants to help support their access and increase diversity in trades,鈥 said Cousins. 鈥淥ur goal is to continue to develop the workforce of the future and increase the number of tradespeople overall in our region and the province.鈥
鈥淭here are currently a lot of job openings in the trades with careers that typically pay well and provide many benefits,鈥 said Cousins. 鈥淭he average Red Seal tradesperson in Canada鈥檚 salary is now $111,500.鈥
The Jill of All Trades event will feature a range of hands-on workshops in sectors such as motor vehicle, manufacturing and construction trades, providing the attendees with insight and practical skills.
The first annual Jill of All Trades event will take place on May 15, 2024, at 乱伦海角鈥檚 Kelowna campus. For more on 乱伦海角 Trades and Apprenticeship training, visit okanagan.bc.ca/trades-and-apprenticeship.
