One Woman. One Step. One Movement.

What’s more bad ass than a woman knowing what she wants? A woman getting what she wants, that’s what! Society often tells stories of the women who came before us, those trailblazers who have paved the way for others, well like it or not Shanna Hodgins is one of those women. Intrigued with the opportunity to become a mobile crane operator, she thought about it, for a minute, then went right after it!

By Devan Mighton

Just a few short years ago, Shanna was working as a sales representative for Moir Crane, travelling from job site to job site. For Shanna to sell, she needed to understand more about the product. Understanding this, the crane operators offered their help, allowing her to understand more about the machines. What happened instead was not what she was expecting. The more Shanna learned about the cranes and how they operated, the more questions she had about the job. She learned that like most skilled trades, crane operators make a good liveable wage, good benefits and a pension. She started to believe maybe this was something she could do for herself. In her 30s, with a family to consider, she wanted to know more. So where does someone wanting to be a crane operator begin?

There are a few options when looking for an apprenticeship in any skilled trade. You can go directly to the union or you can find an employer in your field willing to take you on as an apprentice. There, they will train you and sign off on your hours. You learn by working under a licenced tradesperson and while you’re working you are earning a good wage. If you play your cards right, a young person straight out of high school can finish an apprenticeship before the age of 25. For Shanna’s particular skilled trade, it takes 3 years or 6000 hours of working under a licensed crane operator, along with 12 weeks total of schooling. Once completed, the apprentice is responsible to write a test in order to receive their licence. Sounds great, right? So why aren’t more women taking advantage of these opportunities? What does it take, as a woman, to be in this industry?

“A strong mindset and a healthy dose of problem-solving skills,” says Shanna, “the job itself is teachable.” She believes that being a woman in a male dominated industry can be an advantage. “I may be physically weaker, but I bring more to the table as a multi-tasker and problem solver.” Shanna knows that having a “good mentorship, someone who really takes you under their wing and teaches you,” makes all the difference in a person’s experience as an apprentice.

Shanna says “100%,” she would encourage young women to explore their options in the skilled trades. There are countless opportunities. Welders, boiler makers, millwrights, electricians, mechanics, woodworkers, heavy machine operators and let’s not forget the secondary jobs that are related to skilled trades. These jobs are readily available, most with 6-figure incomes, pensions and benefits, all giving someone, including women, a secure future.

Shanna wants young women to “try a little bit of everything,” until you find what you’re interested in. “At first it might be hard, but be strong and focus on the work, if I can do it anyone can.” In the future, she hopes high schools will start offering more workshops and opportunities for young people to explore their options in trades. “Offer a 1 week program in different trades, to give kids choices.” This could certainly give young people a leg up when deciding their future. There are, after all, 140 different trades to offer in Ontario alone. Shanna is a year and a half into her three year apprenticeship and she enjoys every minute of it. Her coworkers at Moir Crane are patient, kind and encouraging. The opportunities are endless. W.E.