More than 200 female high school students were on the campus of Cambrian College for the annual Jill of All Trades event, to encourage more young women to pursue well-paying careers in skilled trades and technology. Lily Shawanda, a student at Lively District Secondary School, tries her hand at welding.
In almost every region in Canada, there is an urgent need for more workers to fill well-paying positions in skilled trades and engineering technology.
That message was given loud and clear to female high school students today at the annual Jill of All Trades event held at Cambrian College.
Industry leaders, local sponsors, staff, and faculty from Cambrian College pulled out all the stops to showcase everything the skilled trades and engineering technology sectors have to offer young women considering their next steps after high school.
200 students from seven local high schools as well as from the Serpent River First Nation and the Nipissing/Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, took part in Jill of All Trades this year.
The students experienced trades and technology careers first-hand by taking part in hands-on activities and workshops in a number of Cambrian's labs.
"Every year this event gets bigger and better," says Renee Scott, Cambrian's Director of Marketing, Recruitment, and Student Success. "This event is a win for everyone involved. Female students get an opportunity to explore good careers they may not have considered otherwise, and they are meeting women in the trades who can encourage and motivate them. Employers are already recruiting the next generation of talented employees, particularly young women. We also get to show the quality of the trades and engineering technology programs we have to offer, plus our campus experience."
Cambrian College and select sponsors awarded seven $1,000 scholarships and two $500 scholarships to students who plan on pursuing careers in trades and engineering technology at Cambrian College.
One of this year's recipients is Kylie Longe, a grade 11 student at Bishop Alexander Carter School in Hanmer. She received a $1,000 scholarship and plans to pursue a career as a heavy equipment operator.
"It feels great to get this scholarship, and it's definitely going to help my family with my education.
My grandfather is a heavy equipment operator, he loves his job, and he is the one who inspired me."
Jill of All Trades is made possible through the support of its many sponsors. To see a full list of sponsors, visit cambriancollege.ca/events/jill-of-all-trades.
Cambrian offers more than 25 programs within our School of Skilled Trades and School of Engineering Technology. Learn more at cambriancollege.ca/programs.
For more information
1400 Barrydowne Road
Sudbury Ontario
Canada P3A 3V8
www.cambriancollege.ca/
