Leaders in the construction industry are looking to recruit more people to fill needs in the coming years and now, Collège Boréal in Sudbury is offering a free course for women who are interested in carpentry as a possible career.
Since 2004, a program has been funded by the Government of Ontario that gives women the chance to receive some hands-on training in the carpentry trade in a safe setting.
Marc Despatie is the communications director at Collège Boréal.
"The idea here is to create a space, a learning environment, where it's going to be a little more comfortable for a woman to learn, because sometimes there's such a male domination in the trades, women sometimes feel a little bit intimidated to come in." said Despatie.
The women enrolled will take part in three different steps over the 36-week long program.
"The first step is academic upgrading, just to make sure they have the basic skills they need. Then they're going to need to learn general construction skills. Following that, they do a level-one apprenticeship, which is going to be 240 hours of construction or carpentry specific training. The last part is an eight-week work placement." said Despatie.
The local carpenters union in Sudbury says it has been a nice change to see women show interest in the carpentry trade.
"Women are a great value into the trade, there is a lot of the women in the industry that's shown up in and come into our interview processes, and we've recruited in the last couple months a good dozen." said Rheal Gélinas of the local Carpenters Union Training Centre.
Cindy Hykin is a member of the Carpenters Union Training Centre Local 2486.
"I got into this trade because I am not your typical girly girl. I like to be outside, I like to be physically fit, I like to work with my hands." said Hykin.
Ten women are currently signed up for this program that starts September 17th at Collège Boréal, and officials with the post-secondary school are hoping between 15 to 20 more women will sign up in the coming weeks
