ATHABASCA — In 2019, women held only 8.7 per cent of the nearly 400,000 trade, transport, and equipment operating jobs in Alberta, and occupied 16.4 per cent of more than 83,000 utility positions, according to data from the provincial government.
Organizations like Women Building Futures (WBF) are dedicated to increasing the numbers of women employed in skilled trades careers with living wages, and as part of its efforts, one representative of the non-profit made an appearance in Athabasca Nov. 5.
Women of all ages, interests, and skill levels stopped by the Athabasca Regional Multiplex to see Ana Saint-Ange, recruitment advisor from WBF.
“With a lot of journey people retiring in the next couple of years, we’re at a point where if we don’t get people into the trades, we’re kind of in trouble,” said Saint-Ange.
“The trades have always been looked at as a male-dominated industry, but what we do is foster the success of women."
WBF offers free training and post-course support services for women across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and most recently, Ontario. Programs range from introductions to steam and pipefitting to driving courses, preparatory classes for power engineering degrees and pre-apprenticeship heavy equipment tech training.
Courses take between two and 17 weeks to complete and offer hands-on training for those curious about careers in related fields.
“If they’ve never tried anything, they are able to try it, figure out what they like and what they don’t like. Once they’re done the program, we connect them to employment opportunities,” said Saint-Ange.
Lifestyle coaches help hopeful students assess how potential careers will fit each individual’s lifestyle, skills, strengths, and long-term goals.
Supports don’t stop once training is complete, either; WBF stays connected to their alumni and offers continuing help finding work in new places after a move, a layoff, or a change in interest.
WBF’s educational partners include NAIT, and Lakeland, Portage, and Keyano Colleges, while companies such as ATCO, Baker Hughes, CN and CP Rail, Lafarge, PCL Construction, and TC Energy among others are active partners offering job opportunities to WBF students.
Saint-Ange said the non-profit ensures the values of their partner employers align with the general values and priorities often sought by women in the workplace: a lack of gender discrimination, an attitude of inclusivity, a diverse workforce, and a work-life balance that accounts for home life.
Access for everyone
While many of Saint-Ange’s visitors were young women assessing their options for careers after high school, both she and Nadine Byers from Athabasca Employment Services said many middle-aged women also expressed interest in WBF.
“We serve anyone from the age of 18 all the way up to 60; the average age of our students is around 40,” said Saint-Ange. “We’re finding that a lot of women have done the raising of their children or they’re looking for a second career path, and this is something that’s been in their minds before.”
Byers said bringing opportunities like those available through WBF is part of Employment Service’s mandate, and exposure to the options outside of — and within — Athabasca can widen perspectives on the possibilities for women of all ages.
“Sometimes in a small community, it feels like there’s a limit on what we can do,” said Byers. “It also gives us the opportunity to interact with lots of different people, and even if trades and Women Building Futures isn’t a path they go down, it’s still an opportunity to see there’s an organization in the community that helps with employment and careers.”
WBF offers online information sessions about each program offered, allowing potential applications to determine if it’s the right fit for them. Affordable housing priced well below market rates are available for students taking in-person training in Edmonton.
And more than a face promoting WBF’s services, Saint-Ange herself is a testament to the organization’s efficacy. An alumnus of the driving course herself, she said the no-cost training and continued supports have allowed her to craft a career and work-life balance she loves.
“When I looked into it, I was like, ‘This is too good to be true,’ but I am a living example that it is,” said Saint-Ange. “A lot of the times, individuals just need a resource to help them get started.”
