NAIT Hosts Nearly 100 High School Students for a Day of Skilled Trades Exploration

December 2, 2022

NAIT welcomed nearly 100 female high school students to Main Campus on Thursday, Nov. 24 for a day of exploring the potential of careers in the skilled trades. 

Jill of All Trades is an annual event that began in 2014 at Conestoga College in Ontario. Conestoga recently received support from national sponsors Owens Corning and Home Depot to bring it to a variety of post-secondary institutes across Canada and NAIT is pleased to be part of the first group. 

Young women in grades 10 to 12 from Edmonton and Northern Alberta attended NAIT’s inaugural event. Attendees participated in up to 3 hands-on workshops to experience trades of interest. The workshops also connected the high school students with mentors—many of whom are female—who helped the students develop a better understanding of the benefits of a career in the skilled trades. Mentors included NAIT staff, alumni and members of industry. 

The day kicked off with several guest speakers before the students broke out into the workshops offered by NAIT’s School of Skilled Trades. Workshops included Plumber, Electrician, Welder, Millwork (Cabinetmaking) and Carpentry, Heavy Equipment Technician, Auto Body Technician, Machinist/Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technician, Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning Refrigeration (HVACR) Technician, Ironworker, Carpenter, Insulator and Glazier.  

recent report by RBC indicates more than 700,000 skilled trade workers are set to retire, creating a shortfall of at least 10,000 workers. The report goes on to say that women continue to represent less than four percent of workers in the most in-demand trades. Jill of All Trades aims to help decrease the skilled trades shortfall by encouraging more women to pursue careers in the trades. 

Go HERE to read more about the event

Source

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Linda Nadeau Sanford as Western Regional Sales Manager

    Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Linda Nadeau Sanford as Western Regional Sales Manager

    May 12, 2025 Hammond Power Solutions (HPS), a leader in dry-type transformers and power quality solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Linda Nadeau Sanford as the new Western Regional Sales Manager. Linda will play a key part in driving sales and revenue across the Western Canada region. She will oversee territory management, advance… Read More…

  • Susanna Zagar, Ontario Energy Board CEO, Named EHRC’s 2025 Agent of Change

    Susanna Zagar, Ontario Energy Board CEO, Named EHRC’s 2025 Agent of Change

    May 12, 2025 Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is proud to announce Susanna Zagar (she/her), Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), as the recipient of the 2025 Agent of Change Award. This recognition celebrates Ms. Zagar’s remarkable leadership and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the electricity sector. Since stepping… Read More…

  • AD Reports Huge Jump in Member Sales Through Three Months of 2025

    AD Reports Huge Jump in Member Sales Through Three Months of 2025

    May 12, 2025 AD reports that member sales in the first three months of 2025 increased 23% to a record $24 billion across the group’s 14 divisions and three countries. AD welcomed over 550 new members in the first quarter through both organic growth and the IMARK Electrical merger. AD members also acquired another 10… Read More…

  • Legrand Introduces Wattstopper i3 Building Management Platform

    Legrand Introduces Wattstopper i3 Building Management Platform

    May 12, 2025 Legrand® has announced the launch of the Wattstopper i3 Platform, a next-generation lighting and building intelligence solution powered by KODE Labs, a global leader of advanced smart building technology.  The partnership positions Legrand to lead the lighting controls industry into a new era of unified experiences, seamless integrations, and data-driven control, making it easier… Read More…