EMPOWERINGWOMEN TO SUCCEED
INSPIRINGPOSITIVE ECONOMIC CHANGE
TRANSFORMINGTHE FACE OF INDUSTRY
THE WBF VISION
• When more women work, economies grow
• Household income controlled by women benefits children
• Investing in women’s education contributes to higher economic growth
• Women’s Economic equality is good for business
Why Empower Women to Succeed?
Why Trades and Related Occupations?
The State of Women in Industry
Women are Canada’s largest untapped labour resource
Benefits of Women’s Participation
• Access to qualified workers
• Increased innovation, creativity and productivity
• Higher overall corporate performance
• Improved reputation
What are the benefits to industry?
“When women started entering our job sites, it allowed me to talk about my wife in a positive way with my co-workers; it allowed me to talk about my children in a positive way with my co-workers…
…that’s the positive part that women in the trades do for our industry is they allow conversations to happen that never would have happened before.”
Excerpt from Enhancing the Retention and Advancement of Women in Trades in British Columbia: Final Report
What are the benefits to industry?
Women Building Futures
A Proven Approach for Women & Industry
• In operation for two decades
• Proven track record of preparing women to succeed in careers in construction and maintenance
• Close to 1,700 women trained; in 2017 35% indigenous
• Consistent employment rate of 90% for graduates
• Raise women’s income average of 158%
• 95% client satisfaction rate
About Women Building Futures
2006 2008
WBF Training Centre and Housing
WBF Workshops
• Lack of Awareness• Lack of support of trades as an option• Conflicts with home and family responsibilities• Lack of accessible child care• Stereotyping and discrimination• Limited access to transportation• Isolation• Difficulty navigating and registering for apprenticeship• Insufficient essential skills• Lack of access to mentorship and peer networks• Misconceptions about construction and remote work
The Barriers
42 Units of Affordable Housing
Choice
Opportunity
Independence
What women gain
Awareness of Opportunity “You have to see it to be it.”
Informed Career Decision Making and ReadinessTraining to prepare women for realities of construction work
Training and Programs
Employment Referrals, Retention and Apprenticeship Support
Partnership
Dispelling Myths and MisconceptionsExposure to worksites and remote sites
The WBF Approach
• 7 industry partners –Finning, Suncor, SMS Equipment, CEDA International, Diversified Transportation, United Rentals, Cummins
• Post Secondary partner (Keyano College) and collaboration from AIT critical
• Quarterly meetings to connect as an industry
• Partners support employment straight through JM
• Apprentices rotate through 3-4 years
Pathway to Apprenticeship
Awareness and Education
Pre-Screening Process
4 weeks of pre -trades training
Women hired as first year apprentices rotating through participating partners through to JM
Support through whole process for employers and apprentices equals success
Pathway to Apprenticeship: HET
• Social Media
• Radio
• Digital Billboards
• Earned media and PR
• Partnerships
• Indigenous Engagement
• Information Sessions
• Career Investigation
Awareness and Education
WBF Assessment
• Informed Career Decision Making
• Academic
• Behavioral Interview
• 12-Panel Urine Drug Testing
• Fitness-to-Work Testing
• Audiometric, Lung, Vision
Pre screening
• Best Practices for Success
• Financial Toolkit
• Industry Guest Speakers and Site Tours
• Safety
• Exposure to Tools and Equipment, Powertrain, Electrical, Hydraulics
Readiness Program
• Awareness and Education-trades are not obvious for women
• Provides navigation, community, confidence, support and mentorship
• Bridge to employment and apprenticeship
• Values driven partnership • Setting mutual expectations for success• Informed career decision making
Why the WBF Approach Works
Best Practices for Hiring and Retention
• Replacing the gender conversation with a respect conversation
• Setting expectations for success
• Mentorship
• Building multi-level buy-in to change
WBF Best Practices
YOU GOT THIS Campaign Results
Transforming Opinion
Voices of WBF graduates
“I’m able to do the things I’ve always wanted to do, like donate to rescue societies, start up an RRSP and create a plan for my future. I love my job and I’m getting really good at it. This is an amazing place to work with lots of opportunities. I’ll be retiring here!” Tracy, Operator Readiness Graduate
“This career has completely changed the trajectory of my life. I made the right decision and the sky is the limit. My proudest moment so far has been seeing my confidence transfer to my two girls. They’re so proud their mom is an Ironworker.” Cara, Ironworker Graduate
Goals
Our Partners
STRATEGIC GROWTH PARTNERS Alberta Construction Safety Association ● Alberta Motor Transport Association ● Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association ● Blakes, Cassels & Graydon LLP ● Brookfield Residential ● BuildForce Canada● Canadian Natural ● Canadian Women’s Foundation ● Capital Power ● Chevron ● CLAC ● ConocoPhillips● The Coordinating Committee of Registered Employers' Organizations as represented by CLRA, ECAA and the BCA Partners BTA and GPMC ● Fluor ● Grey Birch Foundation ● Imperial Oil ● KPMG LLP ● Leacross Foundation● LIFT Philanthropy Partners ● LNG Canada ● Mammoet Canada Western Ltd. ● MEG Energy ● Native Women’s Association of Canada ● NW Refining ● Parlee McLaws LLP ● Plains Midstream ● Suncor Energy Foundation ● SureHire Occupational Testing ● Union 52 Benevolent Society
TRAINING PARTNERS Alberta Construction Safety Association ● Alberta Carpenters Training Fund ● Alberta Ironworkers Apprenticeship and Training ● As Per Safety & Rescue Ltd. ● Cranemasters ● Fusion Safety Services ● GennaroTransport Training ● MacEwan University ● Gridworks Energy Group ● HSE Integrated International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators & Allied Workers Local 110 ● Keyano College ● NAIT ● SafeCom Training Services● Safety Coordination Services ● Spectrum Safety Services ● Western Canada Fire & First Aid
SUPPORTED BY Government of Canada ● Government of Alberta ● City of Edmonton