Hands-on workshop empowers young women to explore the trades

Nearly 60 PVNC Catholic students attend Skilled Trade and Tech Days for Young Women at Fleming College

Dec. 16, 2024

Students from St. Mary, St. Stephen and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary Schools spent a good part of the day on Monday (Dec. 16, 2024) trying their hands at three types of skilled trades.

The event was put on by Skills Ontario and Fleming College and featured workshops in carpentry, mechanical/plumbing and electrical.

“We need more safe spaces at school and such where there are more girls in the class,” said Raine Leger, a Grade 12 student at St. Mary CSS. “The past four years where we did our shop classes together, there’s only four or five girls max.”

“The generation before us wasn’t introduced to women in the trades. So they don’t push for it or recommend it, so it’s good that the schools help with that,” added Phoenix Vickers, Grade 12 student at St. Mary CSS.

Both Leger and Vickers say they plan to go into the trades following secondary school.

“Even if you’re considering it, you should come check it out,” said Gracie McHendry, a Grade 9 student at St. Stephen CSS. “It’s really cool to get hands on to see if you like it.”

“It’s really cool because when you think of trades, not a lot of women or young girls like us consider it,” added Mia Vareiro, a Grade 9 student at St. Stephen CSS. “So it’s cool to do it and be different, you can say.”

“More women should be getting into the trades. They’re good jobs,” said Lilly Cooke, a Grade 10 student at St. Thomas Aquinas CSS.

McHendry, Vareiro and Cooke say they’ll consider trades for a future career.