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