The LEAD Sheet - February 11, 2016

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FEBRUARY 11, 2016

the LEAD Sheet A L A B O U R M A R K E T N E W S L E T T E R F O R G R E AT E R VICTORIA EMPLOYMENT SERVICE CENTRES

Women in trades

CONTENTS LEAVING THE OIL FIELDS

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JOB CREATION IN BC

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Photo credit: Camosun College

Building equal opportunity By Kate Wiley

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hanks to the hard work of generations past, women have achieved equal representation in much of the workforce, but the playing field remains uneven in the trades. With an eye toward increasing the number of skilled tradeswomen (and men), the BC government is encouraging students to pursue careers in trades through a variety of funding initiatives. Camosun College has been on the receiving end of some of that funding and is opening a new $30 million Centre for Trades Education and Innovation this year. Camosun is the largest provider of trades training on Vancouver Island and the second largest in BC. The college currently trains over 2,200 students every year in 20 different trades foundation and apprenticeship programs.

The school’s Trade Skills Foundation Exploratory program is open to women of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. “It gives women an opportunity to join like-minded women, while focusing on something new and different,” says Program Coordinator Jayna Wiewiorowski. “It’s very supportive; these women are not competing with one another, but helping each other to the ultimate end goal of finding work in the trades.” Participants will explore a variety of career paths, industry demands and safety practices. Trades covered may include: Carpentry, Automotive, Electrical, Fine Furniture, Horticulture, Plumbing, Sheet Metal, or Welding. Historically, jobs in these fields were not presented as viable career options for women, but programs like the one at Camosun are fixing that. According to Jayna, the industry (Continued on page 4)


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