Status of Women committee  Yes, I think that works really well. Again, the parents are really concerned about safety for their children. If we can bring them in and demonstrate a safe and supported environment, that means a lot.

Status of Women committee  If we can get them in, we can definitely help to change their minds. Not everybody, but most people, will see that the technology component of a lot of trades is not what a lot of people might think. One of the committee members mentioned it being for people who can't get into un

Status of Women committee  It does.

Status of Women committee  It is more about accessibility and timing. Many of our women, because they have low income, will receive a significant subsidy for their day care.

Status of Women committee  It has definitely made a difference for us. Child care is one of the most common barriers we hear of. With trades jobs, even if you are working locally, most daycare centres won't open until 7 or 7:30 and you need to be on the job by 7 a.m., so you need to be dropping kids off

Status of Women committee  Absolutely. We have only two female trades instructors at our college. One of them we got because the second she told her boss she was pregnant—and she was only three months pregnant—she was told she couldn't come back to work.

Status of Women committee  So not only did she leave work as an electrician, she's done with that field. She's into teaching now. I was shocked to hear that, because I didn't know if it was even legal for them to say she couldn't come back because she was pregnant.

Status of Women committee  It is the culture. They were afraid. They said, “We're afraid you'll hurt yourself. What happens if...?”

Status of Women committee  For our women, safe and supported access is a big concern. They want to know that they're going to be safe when they try welding, that they're not going to get injured, that they're not going to get hurt. They're fearful of things they haven't tried before and the supported acces

Status of Women committee  With our programs we try to have the women do labour market research before we sponsor them for a trades foundation program. They have to be able to show that there is a job available for them to go to once they complete the training or we won't want to sponsor them for that trai

Status of Women committee  I believe it does.

Status of Women committee  In our area the school district is actually very eager to set up the makerspace and have it available to members of the community to come in and use. We believe that tinkering is a lost art, that you need to play with stuff, take it apart, and learn to do things with your hands,t

Status of Women committee  We agree and have much of the same process. We're very much in touch with our community and we are always looking to adapt and change things up to stay relevant and effective in our community, but as far as increasing awareness goes, I'd like to see more role models brought out i

Status of Women committee  I would love to.

Status of Women committee  We promote that program to our students, but that kicks in a little way down the road after they leave us, after they become apprentices, so I don't have very much feedback on that for you.