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RESOURCES

Local Resources in the Skilled Trades and Technology

1. YWCA Hamilton

  • General Machinist and Electrician-Construction and Maintenance pre-apprenticeship programs for women: hands-on learning opportunities about the general machinist and electrician trades, up to 28-weeks of full-time training, no cost to participants.
  • Advancing Women in the Skilled Trades Toolkit: This toolkit is composed of three chapters for recruitment, retention and advancement of women in the skilled trades and offers concrete practices to help diversify the workplace (http://www.advancewomenintrades.com/)
  • For more information, visit their website.

2. ArcelorMittal Dofasco

  • ArcelorMittal Dofasco Advanced Manufacturing High Skills Major Program SHSM
  • FIRST Robotics Ontario District Regional Competition, VEX robotics
  • Take Your Kid to Work Day
  • STEM for HER
  • Advanced Manufacturing Program Bursaries
  • For more information, visit their website.

3. Mohawk College

  • School-College Work programs
  • Dual-Credit Bridge programs
  • Apprenticeship programs
  • The Brickworks Academy series of workshops including: Lego Stop Motion Animation, Minecraft Computer Camp, Jr. and Sr. Lego Robotics, Castle Builders, and Pokemon Designer Camp
  • Marshall School of Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship
  • Destination College
  • City School Mobile: 1000-square-foot classroom with 12 welding simulators (cityschool@mohawkcollege.ca)
  • Women in Technology and Trades (WITT) https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/WITT

4. McMaster University

​4.1 Venture Camp offers hands-on project in engineering and technology:

      • Codemakers Programs (grades 3-4, 5-7, 8-10)
      • Engineering Science Programs (grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-10)
      • Engineering Technology Program (grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-7, 8-10)
      • Go Code Girl (grades 7-10)
      • Bioengineering (grades 10-12)
      • Computer Science and Software Engineering (grades 10-12)
      • Mechatronics Engineering (grades 10-12)
      • Venture Academy Scholarships for Girls (grades 5-7, 8-11)
      • Venture Academy Indigenous Youth Bursaries
      • For more information, please visit https://youthprograms.eng.mcmaster.ca/

​4.2 Math and Stats Department

      • Math@Mac day for students in grades 10-12
      • Math@Mac Online Mathematics Competition
      • Kangaroo Math Competition
      • Professional development opportunities for high school teachers offered by the Mathematics and Statistics department
      • For more information, please visit https://ms.mcmaster.ca/lovric/msoutreach/

​4.3 The McMaster Children and Youth University

      • Public lectures and workshops involving McMaster Faculty and graduate students delivering STEM content to youth of all ages.
      • For more information, please visit https://mcyu.mcmaster.ca/

​4.4 Let’s Talk Science Outreach Centre

5. The Industry-education Council of Hamilton (IEC)

6. Hamilton Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Consortium (HSTAC)

  • The Council meets at least three times each year to discuss training issues, which can include the promotions of skilled trades as respected career/profession thereby increasing enrollment in apprenticeship programs, increasing apprenticeship completion rates, encouraging employer commitment to develop skilled trade programs and strengthening partnerships with other related organizations
  • http://hstac.ca/en/training

7. The Ontario Network of Women in Engineering (ONWIE)

  • The objective of this network is to work collaboratively to support current female engineers, students, and encourage the next generation of women to pursue careers in engineering
  • http://www.onwie.ca/

8. Skills Ontario

  • Tech camps for girls in Guelph, Kitchener, Sudbury
  • Summer camps for girls in grades 7/8
  • Annual Young Women’s Initiative Conference and events
  • Annual skills competitions
  • In-school presentations
  • https://www.skillsontario.com/

9. Nicole LeClair Welding Bursary Award

10. Canada’s Building Trades Union (CBTU)

  • Young Women’s Post-Secondary Scholarship: the purpose of the award is to acknowledge and recognize the community activism of a young black woman who has been accepted academically to a post-secondary institution
  • Ann Newman Scholarship Fund
    • Eligibility criteria: Any student who has graduated or will be graduating from a Canadian High School or an equivalent program and who will be or is attending a recognized post-secondary institution such as a college, trade school or university, and is a member, child, grandchild or family members of CBTU member in good standing
    • A youth in the Black community
  • http://cbtu.ca/join-us/scholarships/

11. Support Ontario Youth Scholarships

12. Hamilton-Brandford Building Trades

13. Threshold School of Building

  • Ready to Work Youth Program: for youth interested in employment in the construction sector (ages 15-30)
  • https://www.tsob.ca/
Online Resources in the Skilled Trades

Apprenticeship Programs in Ontario:

Apprenticeship Grants


Skills Ontario:

Skilled Trades Job Search

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

Ontario College of Trades

Support Ontario Youth Scholarships

Employment Ontario (EO)

Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Programs

Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs

Canadian Apprenticeship Forum

The Centre For Skills Development & Training (Halton Region)

GTA Skilled Trades

Nextgen Professional (Construction Careers)

Advancing Women in the Skilled Trades Toolkit

Women in Technology and Trades (Mohawk College)

Trades Women Directory

Canadian Centre For Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology

Kickasscareers/ Journeyman


Nicole Leclair Welding Bursary Award:

Actims Women in Trades Awards/Bursaries Program

Labour Market Information

The Hamilton Skilled Trades Apprenticeship Consortium (HSTAC)

Industry-Education Council of Hamilton (IEC Hamilton)

Hamilton-Brantford Building Trades

Joint Apprenticeship Training committee (JATC)

Canada’s Building Trades Union (CBTU)

Canadian Manufacturers & Explorers

Careers in Construction

Ontario Colleges Application Service (Data Reporting)

Build a Dream

Online Article About Canadian Women in the Skilled Trades

Below is a list of articles about some of Canada’s most successful women in the trades. These can be used as inspiration for young women as they demonstrate the wide range of possible career opportunities available to them in the skilled trades.


Jamie McMillan

Job Title: Ironworker and Founder of Kickass Careers

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/jamie-mcmillan


Karma Hunter

Job Title: Co-owner of Cree-Con Construction

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/karma-hunter


Evonne Edwards

Job Title: Ironworker

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/evonne-edwards


Ani Bogovic

Job Title: Owner of Dekla Developments

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/ani-bogovic


Lisa Langevin

Job Title: Service Electrician

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/lisa-langevin


Lori Baker

Job Title: Framer

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/lori-baker


Martha George

Job Title: Stone and brick Mason and Company General Manager

Website: https://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/testimonial/martha-george

Online Resources in Technology