Hundreds of young women from high schools across Kelowna attended the Jill of All Trades event at Okanagan College (OC) for a chance to get out of the classroom and gain exposure to hands-on skilled professions.
“This is one of the many ways we’re breaking down barriers and showing young women and gender-diverse youth that they belong in trades. It’s about creating space, building confidence and making it clear: their future in the skilled trades isn’t just possible — it’s needed," said Stephen Speers, dean of trades and apprenticeship at Okanagan College.
Trades are jobs that typically require manual skills and specialized training. Presently, women make up less than four per cent of workers in trades across the country.
The goal of the Jill of All Trades event, which was held at Kelowna's OC campus, was to be a vector through which women and gender-diverse youth could explore a variety of professions and trade programs. At the May 22 event, participants spent time learning and working at a variety of stations set up by the programs offered by the college, including; refrigeration, electrical, carpentry, aerospace, culinary, plumbing and collision repair. Experts who work at the college and in the community attended the event to mentor, teach and engage with the youth.
“While we’re encouraged that women now make up over seven per cent of our apprentices, slightly above the provincial average, there’s still more work to do,” said Speers.
Sisters Ambar and Celeste de la Rosa attended the event to check out the trades programs offered at the college, as they are considering enroling together. The sisters were first introduced to metal work in their school's shop program after moving from Mexico to Kelowna. While making elephant sculptures out of sheet metal at the Jill of All Trades event, the de la Rosa sisters said that they hope to one day open a collision repair shop, where they could work on cars together.
The Okanagan College offers women and girls the opportunity to explore and advance into skilled trades through mentorship, priority seating, and youth training opportunities in the Women in Skilled Trades program. The program has pillars that support women and gender-diverse people in all phases of their education. There are outreach programs for elementary and high school students, along with priority spots in several apprenticeship training programs. There are also mentorship and financial aid opportunities for those enroled in the program.
The college's Trades Sampler program is another option youth, young adults, and women wishing to learn practical skills, gain general employment certifications, and explore a variety of skilled trades careers.
