b'FEATURET heCanadianApprenticeship SUPPORTINGnity byForum (CAF) will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2020. Establishedtosupportand innovatetheapprenticeshipcommu-WOMEN IN TRADES Inway of sharing knowledge, best practices, challenges and solutions, the CAF strives to create a highly-skilled and inclusive workforce.November 2018, CAF hosted its first ever Supporting Women in Trades Conference (SWiT), with the intention of highlighting initiatives, programs and strategiesbeingundertakenbyleading organizationsacrossCanadatohelp address the challenges faced by women working in the skilled trades.Following closely on the heels of the first conference, the second took place this past June, in an effort to create a biennialcyclebetweentheSupporting Women in Trades Conference and CAFs National Conference, meaning the next SWiT will be in 2021. Conferencedelegatesconsistedof womenintrades,employers,labour organizations,governmentandeduca-tors, among other advocates for diver-sityandinclusion.Bothconferences have been very well-attended, reaching theirmaximumattendancelimitof 300+ delegates.The struggle to educate women on theopportunitiesthetradescanoffer and make them feel welcome on the job is still very real.Earlyaccesstohands-onlearning experiences in the trades creates aware-nessofthepossibilitiesforcareersin the skilled trades, says Shawn Watson, Manager of Communications & Events at CAF. Only 38 per cent of women are aware of apprenticeship in high school. They require greater access to hands-on learning opportunities and more infor-mation on the apprenticeship pathway.Educating girls when theyre younger and continuing that education through high school will go a long way in sharingOver 30 Years Experience in Roofing, Sheetmetal, Waterproofing and Panel System Installations opportunities, but the fact remains thatfor Commercial, Industrial and Large Scale Residential Projects. Serving Western Canada & More.therehavetobeemployerswillingtoExperience Makes The Difference. Lets Build Something Great!apprentice and ultimately hire them.laingroofing.comWatsonagrees,Womennote thatdiscriminationcontinuestobeaKELOWNA(Head Office)VERNONbarrier to finding an employer sponsor.P: 250.765.3866 P: 250.542.5544www.rcabc.org l23'