BCIT celebrates the launch of the ConnectHER Hub, a dedicated office and lounge space at the AFRESH Home (NE3), on the Burnaby Campus. The BCIT ConnectHer Hub is designed to be a welcoming and resourceful space of support for women and gender-diverse trades students at BCIT. Throughout the year, the ConnectHER Hub will host networking events and provide opportunities for students to connect with BCIT trades alumni, access trades-specific support, and engage with industry allies.
Despite substantial investment into apprenticeship, there remains a high demand for skilled workers to fill job openings across the trades industry, where recruitment and retention continue to be major challenges. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum reports that only 36% of women and 46% of men complete their apprenticeship training in the top 15 Red Seal Trades, with this gap widening in non-traditional trades, which encompass the building trades. In the top five of these non-traditional trades, women and gender-diverse individuals represent only about 6% of all apprentices.
The BCIT ConnectHer Hub aims to be a supportive resource for women, gender-diverse, and underrepresented individuals in trades – offering opportunities for employment, mentorship, and connections to aid in improving recruitment and retention efforts across the industry.
“Social connection is crucial for women and gender-diverse trades workers to combat isolation, as well as to create employment, training, and advancement opportunities,” shares Anna Lary, Master Electrician and the Project Lead for the ConnectHER Hub at BCIT. “The Hub will foster connection and build a well-resourced community of women and gender-diverse trades students.”
Over 150 people gathered at the BCIT Tech Collider to celebrate the official launch of the ConnectHER Hub, emceed by Anna Lary. Barbara James, Red Seal Carpenter and BCIT part-time instructor, opened the event with a Land Acknowledgement. Jennifer Figner, Provost and Vice President, BCIT Academic, also delivered remarks to celebrate the launch of the space. Highlights of the event were an engaging all-tradeswomen Influencer Panel that included Carly Steiman of Workbee Home Solutions, Jessica Bannister of Cam Cool Refrigeration, Colleen Blair, a journey machinist and Nicole Panton—electrical apprentice and performer; and a video presentation and reading by award-winning poet and heavy industry professional Christina Shah.
The ConnectHER National Project
The BCIT ConnectHER project is part of a larger national project led by Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions with the intention of improving recruitment, retention, and supports for women in Red Seal trades through a female-led mentorship program. The ConnectHER project will build a national community to ignite a movement and drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in male-dominated industries.
“The creation of a space dedicated to connecting and empowering women in the trades is incredibly exciting and we’re thrilled to celebrate the ConnectHER Hub launch with BCIT,” says Heather Carey, Senior Manager Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions. “We know it’s going to be a place where tradeswomen in BC can build strong networks, share knowledge, and support one another as they advance in their careers and shape the future of the skilled trades.”
Heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the launch of the BCIT ConnectHer Hub – Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions, the BCIT School of Construction and the Environment, BC Centre for Women in the Trades, BC Trades Equity Society (formerly BC Tradeswomen Society), Home Depot, BCIT Alumni Association, DeWalt, WinSETT Centre Canada, Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA), BC Hydro, and many more. Special appreciation goes to Project Lead Anna Lary, supported by Sarah Bainbridge, Lisa Francis, Marita Luk, Tim Chung, and Clement Wong.
Learn more about the BCIT ConnectHER Hub.