THUNDER BAY — Students from four of the city's high schools participated in a one-day event to promote women in tech and trades.
On Thursday, approximately 70 female students from Westgate, Superior CVI, St. Patrick, and Hammarskjold were rotated through four workstations that showcased heavy machinery, welding, carpentry, and electrical work.
Put on by Skills Ontario, Katie Cameron, the young women's initiatives coordinator, said only five per cent of skilled trades workers are female.
"We just want to introduce young women as young as possible to the skilled trades and make them feel comfortable around tools and feel accepted on the work site.
"Often, our workshops are led by female mentors, so they get to see real-world opportunities, meet professionals, and learn a little bit about their careers," Cameron said.
Kendall Levesque is a Grade 9 student at Hammarskjold who was looking forward to trying new things.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity to try out the different trades and it's a day out of school. My dad's a carpenter, so I wanted to try that out."
Laborer's International Union of North America Local 607 hosted the Thunder Bay event.
The Skilled Trade & Tech Days for Young Women are held across the province in various locations, including Kenora and Dryden.
More details about the events can be found on Skills Ontario's website.
