b'ECAO Contractor Commits to Empowering Women in TradeK-LINE MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION UTILIZINGBEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT DIVERSITYBy SHERRI HAIGHA OrganizationalEffectivenessforK-LineMainten-Allana Kellett-Jamieson loves working in the electrical sector and is proud of the great focus her company puts on supporting women in the industry.AsDirectorof ance and Construction Ltd., Kellett-Jamieson has played a key role in promoting diversity. One important step was when she, along with company president Allan Kellett, signed the Electrical Human Resources Canadas (EHRC) Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity.I would highly recommend to other companies they sign up for this program. You are encouraged to set targets and are measured against your progress, which helps to hold companies accountable for making meaningful change. Since signing the accord, we have seen an increase in females in the trade, and we strive to ensure they feel supported so that they can stay with us, she says.K-Line Maintenance and Construction Ltd., a member of the Elec- I remember going to an industry golf tournament, and I won longest trical Contractors Association of Ontario, focuses on high-voltagedrive. It turns out there were only two other women playing in the power delivery systems as well as providing temporary power servicestournament. Im glad to see female representation at such events is for large-scale construction sites. A powerline workers job includeschanging in a positive direction.ensuring the supply of electricity running to homes and businesses.She encourages any women who are in the trade, or considering a job Theyareresponsibleforinstallation,maintenanceandrepairofin the trade, to find a mentor who can help support them through electrical cables and powerlines, above and below ground. their journey. There have been times when even she has hesitated to While she was first drawn to the company because it is a familyspeak up on an idea, only to have someone else suggest it and it be business,shesaysthefactK-Linefocusesonanichemarketiswell received.very appealing. You need to be confident in yourself and know your worth. A mentor is invaluable, she added.She encourages any women whoBy regularly participating in diversity seminars and workshops, her companyisabletoremaineducatedonbestpracticestoensure are in the trade, or considering atheir programs are effective in supporting and promoting women in job in the trade, to find a mentortheir company.AswellasbeingasignatoryofEHRCsLeadershipAccord,her who can help support themcompany supports Women of Powerline Technicians, an organization dedicated to having women as equal participants in trade and tech-through their journey. nical roles in the electricity sector. Learn more at womenofplt.com.FormoreinformationontheEHRCDiversityAccordvisit https://electricityhr.ca/workplace-solutions/diversity-inclusion/Its very exciting to be in the high voltage space. We are an essentialleadership-accord-on-gender-diversity.service and there are a lot of opportunities for growth, she says. The ECAO are industry partners with the IBEW CCO to provide Kellett-Jamieson admits that when she started in the industry morethe highest standard of electrical contracting services in the country. than ten years ago, it was a very different landscape. www.poweringcommunities.caOntario Electrical Contractor19'