b'SKILLED TRADES ROUNDTABLEtime again that women make very goodmoving through our programs. Werefrom our programs. They need a career workers in the trades because they haveready to remove any barrier in front ofthey want to stay in, not just a job they good attention to detail. Theyre verythem because we know that at the endwant to start.specific, and their outcomes are gener- of the program is secure employment ally at a higher quality. and a secure career. Our theory is that ifSwan: When you think of construction, we can get them through that program,you think of really hard work and really Desjarlais: Women are great multitaskersget them confident and ready to takeintense labourdestigmatizing that. and handle stress way better than menthose steps on their own, financial inde- Once you get your ticket, its easier work do. Women have a lot of great ideas: apendence is in front of them. and it pays better. I make a comfortable smarter way, maybe an easier way [toOf the 17 weeks of our program, fivewage where Im not constantly stressed get the job done effectively]. weeks cover shop and three or fourabout bills. WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIESweeks are spent on safety tickets. TheRepresentation: seeing other Indigenous THAT ARE ALREADY BEINGrest is all about building personal confi- people or women in the trades is impor-USED, OR THAT COULD BEdence. That can take on many differenttant. Twenty-four-hour daycares would INTRODUCED, TO BRINGforms; it can be about how to have thatbe beneficial for long hours or odd shifts.MORE WOMEN, ESPECIALLYconversation with the teammate who isThere is the Registered Apprenticeship INDIGENOUS WOMEN, INTOmaybe a little bit pricklier or a little bitProgram (RAP) already in high school; THE TRADES? more abrasive than what youre used to,you can work in the field, and that counts how to shake hands, how to pack yourfor your high school credits. There is Moen: At Women Building Futures,lunch box for a 12-hour shift or how tothe Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for we have a pre-trades program we callmanage that 12-hour shift. The womenWomen, which is an additional $2,000 Journeywoman Start. Its 17 weeks long,coming out of our programs are not onlyon top of the $1,000 Apprenticeship and 80 per cent of the women will qualifytechnically ready to enter the trades, butIncentive Grant, to help women get for tuition supports, but 17 weeks intheyre ready to enter the work sites.into the non-conventional or underrep-program is a significant amount of time.Confidence cant be underplayed. resented trades.We work to provide those supports, oftenThe last point is that we partner with through donations from our Incredibleemployers of choice; we dont let justLaronde: The industry has to be more Employment sponsors, to remove finan- anyone hire from our programs. Weadaptabletoaddresstheunique cial barriers while women are in program. look for value alignment, and we wantneeds of women in construction and In our Edmonton office, we have 42to make sure that that the employers aremake it more accessible for women. units of safe, affordable housing thatproviding a welcoming work environ- I think a good place to start would are available for the women who arement for the women who are graduatingbe acknowledging the uniqueness 90A CCAB PUBLICATION2022'