I used to work with women who were going into the skilled trades. One of the most effective things we did was bring in a young welder, who brought her first paycheque.
As soon as the women saw how much she earned, they were thinking “oh”. Women have the same sorts of skills. They have fine motor skills. They can follow a sewing pattern. They can follow a blueprint. Many of the women thus went into the skilled trades. I think it's a question of the exposure and also of working with the parents, because there's still a stigma about working in the skilled trades. I think it's important to reach the parents so that they encourage their children.
I recently was in Linamar, which is a company in the automotive industry in Guelph. They're starting a women's network. They were asking me how to start one. They have 19 apprentices, and every year they try to take five more women apprentices. It's thus also a question of working with business to encourage them to support women.