Build TogetHER BC continues connecting women to the skilled trades

August 4, 2020

With a shortfall of construction workers looming, the industry has worked hard to recruit more women using creative and supportive approaches.

For example, Kristine Byers, a carpenter and representative of the BC Regional Council of Carpenters, and Julia Ballantyne, an HVAC technician and organizer with United Association 516, visited the Fraser Valley Institution for Women (FVIW) several times over two years.

“We visited groups of minimum- and medium-security inmates,” said Byers.

Wearing their work clothes and with the tools of their respective trades at their sides, the women made one-hour Power Point presentations and told the women how they got into the trades.

“We explained the trades and apprenticeships and the opportunities available,” said Byers.

Byers and Ballantyne were asked a variety of questions, including how much the work pays, how are women treated, how much education and training is required and how much the training costs.

“Our time at the institution was well spent,” Byers said. “All the women were interested and some were enthusiastic.”

Build TogetHER BC continues connecting women to the skilled trades

 

Source: Construction Connect