Skills Ontario Offering Free Attendance for Virtual 2022 International Women’s Day Conference and Workshop

March 3, 2022

Skills Ontario is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8th through two free events: the International Women’s Day Conference and the International Women’s Day Workshop. The conference will have sessions at 10:00 am (EST) and at 7:00 pm (EST), so that students in grades 11-12 and at the post-secondary level, apprentices, businesswomen, tradeswomen, and advocates for women in the skilled trades and technologies can join this conference when it best suits their schedule. The workshop, intended for students in grades 6, 7, and 8, will run from 10:00 am to 11:00 am (EST).

With conversations on allyship, facing discrimination, health & safety, incentives, resources, and more, attendees of the conference will hear from many panelists and speakers to learn more about pursuing skilled trades and technologies. Those participating in the workshop will learn about animation through Google Slides and will even get a chance to win a prize if they submit their completed animation project.

“Opportunities for women in trades and tech are limitless,” says Lindsay Chester, Program Manager of Skills Ontario’s Young Women’s Initiatives. “We need to continue to raise awareness of the career options and provide platforms for female tradespeople to tell their story.”

Over the course of the year, Skills Ontario and its partners will host Young Women’s Career Exploration events at locations across Ontario that bring education, hands-on experience, and mentorship together, ultimately making the connection to successful career opportunities in the skilled trades and technology sectors. The event series culminates in the Young Women’s Conferences at the Skills Ontario Competition that will be held virtually on May 3, 2022. Skills Ontario’s Young Women’s Initiatives are delivered in partnership with GM Canada, Magna, and the Government of Ontario.

“Young women need to know that the trades and technologies offer many opportunities that can lead to bright, stable and successful futures,” says Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “Skills Ontario looks forward to continuing to work with our partners from government, industry, and education to increase the momentum for gender equality and a strong and diverse workforce.”

All the details on Skills Ontario’s International Women’s Day events can be found at skillsontario.com/iwd.