Participants of the first Electrical Pre-Apprenticeships Program for Women were recently celebrated at St. Clair College for achieving their training goals.
The Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Women is led by Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor, Inc. (WEST) in partnership with St. Clair College. This program provides free tuition and paid placements to help women develop technical skills and gain employment in the skilled trades sector. Students acquire skills and tools to learn the use of machinery essential to their ten-week work placement and long-term career aspirations to become electrical apprentices.
St. Clair College President Dr. Patti France, Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy, WEST Executive Director Rose Anguiano Hurst and WEST Board President Nadine Manroe Wakerell were all in attendance to congratulate the participants of the program.
This intake of students included newcomers, racialized, and LGBTQ women - who were applauded for taking steps to explore careers in the skilled trades to meet the evolving labour market needs and skills shortage.
"Few of our partnerships and experiences with students have been as inspiring as our long-standing involvement with WEST," said President Dr. France. "There are many positive elements to our relationship with the organization and these students: women in non-traditional STEM fields, their post-graduation success in the employment market and the life-changing difference their educations have made for them and their families."
The Electrical Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Women is funded by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development under the Skills Development Fund. A six-session series of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training will also be provided to employers and journeypersons to create more inclusive workplace settings and better future retention of women in a traditionally male-dominated workforce. This EDI training will be delivered to the participants virtually from August 4 – September 8, 2022.
Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, sent a congratulatory message to the participants and spoke highly of their completed training.
"When you are an electrician, you have an in-demand job for life," said Minister McNaughton. "This great program is opening doors for women, helping them begin rewarding careers in the skilled trades so they can earn bigger pay cheques for themselves and their families."
Since 1987, WEST has provided 50,000 women in Windsor-Essex with support and programs to aid them in securing employment and enhancing their skills, along with providing newcomer and immigrant women with services designed to help them adapt and integrate into Canadian culture and their new community. To learn more about their programs, services or future workshops and events, visit www.westofwindsor.com.
Brett Hedges