BCIT hosts event to encourage more women to enter skilled trades

BCIT hosted 150 high school girls from across Metro Vancouver Thursday in a ‘Jill of All Trades’ event that aims to inspire more girls to enter the trades.

For student Abbigail Crosby, being surrounded by other young women at an event like this feels like a refreshing change.

“I was so surprised with how many women there are because the last trades program I went to, there were about 30 students and I was one of three women there,” Crosby said.

“So this is definitely a big shock and comforting to see so many women are interested in the same thing I am.”

She says she has always been interested in the trades, especially when she learned more about the variety of different jobs and the impact a career in the trades can have on the community.

“There are so many things I’ve never heard about, so many trades that aren’t talked about a lot, and it’s cool to see how much people do for our city that we don’t know about,” said Crosby.

Tamara Pongracz, department head of the Trade Access Group, says there is a place for everyone in the trades.

“We tell young women all the time that you can be anything you want to be, but then we don’t support them in that,” Pongracz said.

“So a day like this is a day to say, truly, you can be anything you want to be.”

Students participated in workshops highlighting several careers, including ironworker, cabinetmaker, and machinist.

“They’re getting the chance to try some trades hands-on in the shop because if you can see it, you can be it,” said Pongracz.

Participants also got the chance to interact with industry professionals.

Women currently make up less than five per cent of all trades workers in B.C., but this event aims to change that.

“There are going to be a lot of boots to fill, there are going to be job openings and we are going to need every kind of person out there who is willing and able that wants to be in the trades,” said Chelsea Barron, a machinist instructor at BCIT.

“There’s a place for everyone in the trades.”

Women working in trades admit it can be challenging to work in a male-dominated industry, but the Jill of All Trades event participants are up to the challenge.

“I was a bit worried to come here today, but just seeing how many people there are has just given me the confidence to keep going,” Crosby said.