Young women to learn about trades, tech
Niagara College has partnered with public and Catholic schools
Niagara College in partnership with District School Board of Niagara, Niagara Catholic District School Board and Ontario Power Generation present the Exploring Your Future — Dream It, Believe It, Do It series starting Thursday.
Through spring 2021, the college will host female high school students across Niagara to explore careers in trades and technology. The intent of the workshops is to make them aware of career pathways that exist in industries they may not have traditionally considered.
Guests will include keynote speaker Jessica Polak, OPG’s senior projects director, Darlington Nuclear Refurbishment, and Lisa Caruso, a professor in the college’s mechanical techniques program.
“Ontario Power Generation is proud to sponsor this collaborative event, which is about giving young women an opportunity to explore careers related to math, science and technology,” said Polak. “Hopefully, these interactive sessions will spark their interest in furthering their education in these ar
eas.”
Said Caruso, “I have enjoyed a career as a tool and die maker in the manufacturing industry for over 25 years, and now I am fortunate to help train the future generation of skilled workers. I hope that sharing my experience will inspire young women to consider a career in the trades and encourage more female representation in the industry.”
More than 120 students will have the opportunity to hear from female mentors and learn
more about specific career paths through additional events they can register for based on their interests.
Jill Russell, DSBN consultant for technological education and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program said, “Our goal is to inspire students to explore and learn about the careers they can have in the skilled trades and technologies, and we hope experiences like this lead them to amazing opportunities in these fields.
“Students will also get materi
als sent to them so they can participate in hands-on activities during the virtual sectorspecific events, from wherever they’re tuning in from,” said Russell. “Our students really value the chance to hear from strong, enthusiastic, and accomplished female mentors, so it’s important that we’ve been creative and moved this opportunity online.”
Ivana Galante, the Niagara Catholic board’s business technology/specialist high skills major and youth apprenticeship consultant said, “This is an incredible opportunity for the young women in Niagara to learn from trailblazers who are leading the way in the skilled trades and technology.”
“It’s an exciting time for us to watch girls and young women really embrace what’s available to them,” said Galante. “We are seeing that more girls in high school and even before looking beyond those traditional career pathways they have followed to look at careers in science, technology and the trades.”
Vincent Shaikh, the college’s dean of media, trades and technology, said, “The skilled trades and technology are an areas where there is great demand, and they offer extraordinary opportunities for young people, especially women who are still under-represented in this important field.”
The Exploring Your Future series is designed to inspire young women to seek career opportunities in trades and technology. Both school boards have held previous in-person events encouraging female high school students to explore traditionally male-dominated fields.