SASKATCHEWAN POLYTECHNIC
Sask Polytech outreach programs encourage women to enrol in trades

Rylee Quinte is in her first semester in the Machinist certificate program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, following her dream of a career in the trades.

The 2025 Canadian Tire Martensville Education Award recipient was inspired to enrol after participating in events put on by Sask Polytech's Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) powered by Orano and the Saskatoon Industry-Education Council (SIEC).

"The SIEC boot camp made me fall in love with the trade," she says.

Allison Zerr, program head of WITT, says the opportunity for high school students to experiment while thinking of their learning journeys is important.

"Participants in our outreach events have a chance to network and try the skills of the trades. They use the tools and operate equipment in an environment where they feel comfortable, so they can build up their confidence," she says.

WITT hosts a variety of recruitment events throughout the year. Jill of All Trades is a one-day conference to introduce different trades and career options to high school students. Exploratory courses are weekend workshops open to women over the age of 15. Starting this year, Girls in Trades and Technology events expanded to include programming for elementary school students starting in grade six.

"The end goal in all WITT programming is to educate girls and women through hands-on activities and presentations by successful females in industry," Zerr says.

At events and workshops, WITT strategically pairs well-known trades with ones that are lesser known. For example, they had a showcase on welding, sheet metal work, machining, millwright and power engineering at the last event. 

"We include similar career option environments to broaden participants' horizons," Zerr says.

Quinte says that without her experience in two Jill of All Trades events, she wouldn't have known becoming a machinist was a career option.

"It's an industry that's not super talked about. Any metal object around you is made in a machinist shop, but people don't know that," she says.

So far in her classes in the shop, Quinte has made a drill part gauge and a laith tool gauge. As she continues to work her way through the program, she has kept an eye on WITT events available to students on campus. Quinte is grateful for Lunch and Learn events to network with other students and learn more from professionals in the industry.

"It makes you feel less alone. There are a lot of other women going into programs in the trades," she says. "Everyone here is so nice. There may be hesitation to learning a trade, but everyone is open to helping you learn and find success."

Adds Zerr, "It means a lot to students to hear from women who have industry experience because it opens their eyes to supports."

WITT's outreach event schedule is available online. Prospective students interested in exploratory camps can now take advantage of a new partnership with TC Energy, which is covering participant registration fees for the winter semester. Enrolment is now open on a first-come, first-served basis.

SIEC and Sask Polytech have partnered on events for the past 22 years to showcase career pathways Sask Polytech offers to young people.  Hands-on, experiential learning gives each student a sense of the skills needed in industry and helps them determine if they're interested in pursuing their interest as a career choice. Learn more at saskatooniec.ca.

WITT builds curriculum for camps, workshops and mentorship programs that teach women valuable skills, encourage women to think about different career options and address barriers that may limit women pursuing careers in trades and technology. Learn more at saskpolytech.ca/witt.