Women’s Day trades workshop coming to Guelph
By Adam Freill
Construction Labour Women in ConstructionSkills Ontario inspiring inclusion for women in the trades by hosting first in-person International Women’s Day event in Guelph.
(Photo courtesy of Skills Ontario)
Skills Ontario is hosting its first ever in-person celebration of International Women’s Day in Guelph, Ont., with a series of events on location at Linamar, an advanced manufacturing company that produces precision metallic powertrain systems, aerial work platforms, and industrial and agricultural assemblies.
During the day on Thursday, March 7, students in Grades 11and 12 will visit Linamar and meet with skilled trade employers to learn about various training and employment opportunities within Guelph, Wellington County, and the surrounding areas.
Participants will engage in various workshops designed to highlight the day-to-day tasks of a skilled trade or technology career and hear from keynote speaker, Emily Chung, an automotive service technician and owner of AutoNiche. The Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck will also be on site for tours and hands-on activities.
“International Women’s Day is a day to stand together in unity, supporting all women and encouraging them to follow their passions, and to excel,” said Lindsay Chester, program manager of the Skills Ontario Young Women’s Initiatives. “We hope participants leave today feeling inspired about pursuing a career in the skilled trades and technologies because there are opportunities for everyone in these industries.”
Later that day, starting at 5:30 p.m., Skills Ontario is inviting women and those who identify as women working in the skilled trades and technologies to attend an evening International Women’s Day Celebration Event at Linamar. The free event is an opportunity to celebrate women in the trades by featuring a variety of exhibitors, networking and a keynote presentation. Those interested in attending can RSVP using the following link: https://skillsontario.jotform.com/240084240401844.
Along with the in-person events, Skills Ontario is also offering online programming for International Women’s Day. The organization is presenting a virtual series from March 5 to 7 called, “A Sit Down With…” where viewers will learn about the experiences of different women working in the skilled trades and technologies.
More information about all the events for International Women’s Day can be found at https://www.skillsontario.com/iwd.
