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By battlefordsNOW Staff

Women Trades

New government funding offered for Journey to Trades; promote women in trades

Mar 31, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Women in the Battleford looking to build careers in the trades will have educational funding support thanks to a partnership between the provincial government and the organization Women Building Futures.

The Journey to Trades pre-employment program will receive $248,000 in funding from the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training and according to Eli Ahlquist, president and CEO of North West College, the target of his school is to diversify the work force.

“We’re looking to women, First Nations and others as well to support that,” he said.

In a news release, the government said over the year, the 12-week program will allow for 18 participants and be held in Regina. While there, students will receive both in-class theory along with a hands-on component.

“At Women Building Futures, we recognize the need to eliminate barriers for women and under-represented groups, so they can get into resilient careers that pay higher than a living wage,” said Women Building Futures President and CEO Carol Moen.

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Ahlquist explained that like most colleges, historically the numbers of women in the trades have been lower but they have been working on targeted initiative.

“Just this past year, we had an event that we facilitated with Women in Trades looking mostly at the Meadow Lake region as well,” he said, noting they’ve also had programs dedicated to targeting women to move into the trades.

In the release, Jeremy Harrison, minister for Immigration and Career Training said the funding is all about creating opportunity.

“This partnership with Women Building Futures will provide the opportunity for women to gain first-hand experience in the skilled trades and take advantage of the in-demand jobs being created in the construction and maintenance industries.”

In a follow-up email, Ahlquist said that they received an 18 per cent increase ($400,000) in funding from the province and roughly 30 per cent of women are in trade programs at the college. While the recent announcement isn’t directed specifically at the college, the president said it is a part of a larger provincial initiative to expand skilled trades.

“That’s definitely a critical need, it’s something that at North West College that we see as a high demand area of training and education for the work force moving forward.”

According to the release, there is a need for more people in the trades sector and Ahlquist’s email read in part that as the demand increases, they “Will continue to offer experiences and programs to facilitate the transition of female students into these careers.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com