Journeywomen for a Union Presence at Skiiis Canada Competitions
This year, the B.C. Federation of Labour is a gold sponsor of the Skills Canada BC and national competitions, and we will be pursuing a “women in trades” theme for this yeads activities at the events. The provincial competition will take place on April 17,2013 at the Abbotsford Tradex, while the national competition will be at BC Place June 5-8, 2013.
The Skills Canada competitions are intended to stimulate youth interest in employment in trades and technologies by hosting skills competitions in a variety of occupational skill areas, in a series of regional, provincial and national competitions.
The Federation will have booth space at the events, and we would like to use it to create “living book” opportunities for young women to talk to tradeswomen about their experiences at our booth. Even today, women completing apprenticeships in traditionally male-dominated trades comprise only two to three percent of all graduates, while after including other trade occupations such as hairdressing and cooking, women comprise only nine percent of all graduates. More support and encouragement is essential to gain greater equality.
As well, we have been asked to participate with BCIT in organizing volunteer tradeswomen to participate in the “Anything you can do…” event that will be held in conjunction with the Skills Canada BC competition on April 17. The aim of this event is to bring together young female students in grades 9-12 from various high schools with women employed in a diverse range of sectors represented at the BC skills competition. During the event, participants will “Discover Trades and Technologies Firsthand” all.
Skills Canada Competitions Journeywomen Volunteers form attached via pdf file below. Download and Print