An Interview with Martina Ernst on Shannon Skinner's Extraordinary Women TV

Photo-collage: Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner
& Martina Ernst, President & CEO Wo-Built
Image Credits: ThatChannel.com on blip

Extraordinary Women with Shannon Skinner

Every Tuesday 10:00 am (live on ThatChannel.com): Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is a weekly talk show featuring one-on-one conversation with successful women from all walks of life, Canadian and international, who share their extraordinary insights on how they made it. Shannon marries her media expertise with her coaching prowess to unlock the secrets of their success.

Last month, Martina was a guest on Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner sharing her extraordinary insights: "Have confidence in yourself; confidence in yourself to know that what you are doing is absolutely right and you have no doubt of it." If you are interested in a career in the building trades, in designing and constructing homes from a women perspective, or would you like to hear top success tips this interview is certainly for you.

Audio-only version:

Watch the interview for Extraordinary Women TV Show: Shannon Skinner talks with Martina Ernst:

Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner on Blip: Shannon Skinner interviews Martina Ernst on ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com Host Shannon Skinner sits down with Martina Ernst, President & CEO, Wo-Built Inc., one of few female-led design and build companies in the Greater Toronto Area.

About this series: Extraordinary Women TV with Shannon Skinner is a weekly talk show featuring successful women from all walks of life, Canadian and international, who share their dramatic and/or extraordinary insights on how they made it. Shannon marries her media expertise with her coaching prowess to unlock the secrets of their success. Tune in, see through a new pair of eyes – and be inspired. For updates, visit: www.ExtraordinaryWomenTV.com Check it out: Shannon posted on her blog Extraordinary Women TV on April 8, 2012

Martina Ernst builds people's dream homes. As president/CEO of Wo Built, a women-led design/build company in Toronto http://bit.ly/HoqZtk

Success Strategies for Women & Trades Follow-up

Flyer: Success Strategies for Women & Trades
An event to accelerate women’s employment in non-traditional trades
Hosted by Centennial College, Toronto, March 6, 2012
Credit: Women’s Access to Trades Network

Success Strategies for Women and Trades
Date: 3/6/2012
Time: 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m
Location: Centennial College, Ashtonbee Campus
Who should attend?
This event will benefit all those who want more women working in the non-traditional trades.
centennialcollege.ca

#womenintrades

Today I attended the MicroSkills Success Strategies for Women & Trades Forum presented by the Women’s Access to Trades Network, held at Centennial College.

The event began with two great introductory speeches by Kay Blair, Executive Director, MicroSkills, and Karen Webb, Chair, MicroSkills Board of Directors.

Ann Buller, President of Centennial College presented a warm and welcoming speech, looking at the future of women in trades.

In Gail Smyth’s (Skills Canada-Ontario) uplifting speech highlighted the tremendous opportunities for women if given the right information and opportunities to advance.

Skills Canada has an amazing amount of programs that will help young women choose the trades as a career. According to Skills Canada, “we need to engage and enlighten young women to take the risk and go into skills trades.” The trades deserve recognition as good career opportunities for women.

I was fortunate to be the facilitator at one of the break-out sessions where we discussed the way forward of encouraging and retaining women in the non-traditional trades. Lively discussions and sharing of experiences made for really great insights which were all captured and will be of great help when the next steps are taken.

After lunch, a Success Panel convened on Leadership, Collaboration, Commitment. Discussions included strategies for getting women in the trades, provincial women's access to trades network - dedicated to accelerating women's participation in the trades.

The College of Trades presentation was very interesting and for anyone interested, check-out: The Labour Market Group: Ontario College of Trades presentation.

Thank you MicroSkills and Centennial College for hosting a fantastic forum on women in trades!

For more information on the Success Strategies for Women and Trades Forum, checkout our previous blog on the topic.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Success Strategies for Women and Trades: Forum

Comic Strip: Wobinna & Friends: The Joys of Shop Class!
Illustrations and story by Dawn Palfreyman
2012 © wobuilt.com

Save the date
March 6, 2012
Women Trade Forum
An event for those who want more strategies to accelerate women’s employment in non-traditional trades.

Success Strategies for Women and Trades

Showcasing and enhancing best practices
Illuminating ideas to accelerate change

Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Centennial College, Ashtonbee Campus
75 Ashtonbee Rd., Toronto, ON, M1L 4N4

Coordinated by the Women’s Access to Trades Network**, and hosted by Centennial College, with support from the Province of Ontario and Canadian Women’s Foundation.

Who should attend?
This event will benefit all those who want more women working in the non-traditional trades:

• Employers seeking more women and skilled workers
• Labour groups looking to include more women in trades and apprenticeship
• Tradeswomen looking for more compatible workplace
• Groups accountable for equity, diversity, labour force development, productivity, poverty reduction
• Colleges, training centres looking to increase women in trades programs
• Secondary schools seeking more career options for girls
• Women looking for better paid jobs

What will the day offer?

• Success strategies in recruiting, training and employment
• Conditions for success -what we need to do more of
• Opportunity to envision what needs to change for more change to occur
• Update on status of College of Trades
• Emerging opportunities for change – a provincial women’s access to trades network

Why are we doing this now?

• Advancement on this issue is still a work in progress
• The demand for skilled trades’ workers is increasing
• We need to collaborate, link up and scale up in order to achieve a critical mass of women in trades
• Women need access to the full range of well paid jobs. It’s in our social contract.

Women’s access to trades is about…
women’s equitable participation in the economy.

• And reducing child poverty.
• And improving labour force development.
• And increasing productivity in a global economy.

**The Women’s Access to Trades Network is a collaboration of organizations dedicated to accelerating women’s participation in non-traditional trades to increase women’s access to good jobs and decrease their risk of poverty. Members include MicroSkills, On Track Career and Employment Services, The Centre for Skills Development and Training, George Brown College, YWCA, South Asian Women’s Rights Organization, Centennial College, Canadian Association of Women in Construction, IBEW Local 153 Women’s Committee, Skills for Change.

links:
about.com: Non-Traditional Employment for Women: Chipping Away At the Glass Ceiling
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com Guide

WIL National Mentorship Program: 2012 · Vancouver · Toronto · Montreal: Toronto Mentorship Program Application Packages

itabc.ca: The British Columbia Industry Training Authority: : Women in Construction Trades: A Strategic Plan to Promote Women
Prepared by The Women in Leadership Foundation, WIL, November 16, 2007

alis.alberta.ca: Career Planning - Education - Jobs: Women in Non-Traditional Occupations: Stories to Inspire

swc-cfc.gc.ca: Status of Women Canada: Statistics: Women in Canada 2010-2011 - A Gender-based Statistical Report

statcan.gc.ca: Statistics Canada: Women in Non-traditional Occupations and Fields of Study
"As was the case for occupation, women have made fewer inroads into non-traditional fields of study in the trades. The top five trades in which men had earned a trades certificate accounted for 79% of men in the trades in 2006. In these top-five male-dominated trades, women accounted for 2% of those with trades certificates in mechanics and repairers and in construction trades; for 3% of certificates in the precision production trades; for 7%, in transportation and materials moving; and for 10%, in engineering technology."
by Kathryn McMullen, Jason Gilmore and Christel Le Petit

employmentjourney.com: Women in non-traditional trades and technology: raising awareness
"Trade HERizons is a program coordinated by Women’s Network PEI. The aim is to encourage women to consider a career in trades and give women the support needed to make that transition."
by Gloria Welton

thecentre.on.ca: Local skilled trades training program helps women achieve their dreams
by mcdonaldm

skillsontario.com: “Women in Non-Traditional Roles – Putting Our Skills to Work”
Putting Our Skills to Work - Women Working in the Skilled Trades and Technologies

theglasshammer.com: The Glass Hammer is an online community designed for women executives in financial services, law and business.

wobuilt.com: Community: Mentoring: The Wo-Built Career Advancement Program
Our mission is to help women enter and succeed in the skilled trades. We hope to open more doors and provide more opportunities for women who strive for a career in the building/finishing trades.

wobuilt.com/blog: Helping Women in the Building Trades

Helping Women in the Building Trades

Want to have a career in the finishing trades?
Interested? This could be you...
2011 @ wobuilt.com

"What could be better than providing a necessary building while helping women to build a future for themselves."
Martina Ernst

Our bulletins – Wo-Built's recent involvements in helping women in the trades.

March 2012 Forum for Women in the Trades and New Network of Women in the Trades

Toronto, November 15, 2011 - Wo-Built Inc, represented by Elida Huignard, Vice President of Training, participated in the November meeting to organize the March 2012 Forum for Women in the Trades.

Skills for Change invites the participation of several Ontario Building Trades Unions like the Sisters in the Trades from IBEW353; and professionals associations like CAWIC (Canadian Association of Women in Construction); colleges like George Brown, Centennial, The Centre for Skills Development & Training; the Ontario Works Apprenticeship Committee, SAWRO, the YWCA and On-Track for Women.

Skills for Change and all the above organizations will coordinate the forum where the launch of the Provincial Network of Women in the Trades will be announced, for which Skills for Change has obtained three year funding.

Wo-Built Inc, a private contractor that promotes the training of more women in the trades salutes the initiative and will participate enthusiastically in its development.

Meeting with Sisters in the Trades, at the IBEW353

Toronto, November 16, 2011 - Wo-Built Inc, represented by Elida Huignard, Vice-president of Training, Jane Wilson and Rebecca Anderson from Skills for Change participated in the informative meeting with the Sisters in the Trades at the Electricians IBEW 353 Union Hall.

Skills for Change, who provide learning and training opportunities for immigrants and refugees, requested the participation of the Sisters at the planned March Forum of Women’s Access to Trades. They also inquired about any issues the Sisters see important to be discussed at the Forum.

The Sisters, a lively group of trades’ women consisting of Journeymen (that are women) and apprentices; many which contributed with important insights in the life of women in the trades. These issues will open many venues of discussion at the Forum.

The Sisters in the Trades is a young organization which is attracting women from several Union Halls: electricians, plumbers, painters and carpenters, united to defend the rights of women in the trades.

links:
microskills.ca: Microskills Annual Report 2011 Highlights: Trades and Technology: Women’s Access to Trades Network
"We launched a Women’s Access to Trades Network, in partnership with several organizations and individuals dedicated to assisting women to get good jobs in the trades. The Women’s Access to Trades Network hosted a "Women in Trades Forum" where more than 80 stakeholders offered recommendations in a report that highlights the need for more leadership and commitment to greater opportunities for women to access employment in the trades. A copy of this report is available on our website. As part of the planning committee for a Youth Trades Fair sponsored by Career Foundation, we designed a very successful Women in Trades Corner aimed at teenage girls."

cawic.ca: Women’s Access to Trades? Not Even Close! A One-day Forum for Accelerating Change
An invitation by MicroSkills Women Services and several collaborators to review women's progress in the trades and ways to increase women's access and success. Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd. Toronto, November 25th, 2010

wittnn.com: Women in Trades & Technology National Network (WITT NN)
WITT National Network (WITT NN) is an education and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting and assisting in the recruitment, training and retention of women in trades, technology, operations and blue collar work (TTO/BCW) across Canada.

wobuilt.com/blog: Fulfill Your Dreams, and Have a Great Career in the Trades

wobuilt.com/blog: Building Homes - Leading Women into Construction

wobuilt.com/blog: Career Possibilities for Women in the Building and Construction Trades

competencescanada.com: Skills / Compétences Canada (S/CC) is a national, not-for-profit organization that works with employers, educators, labour groups and governments to promote skilled trades and technology careers among Canadian youth.

skillsontario.com: Skills Canada - Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the skilled trades and technologies as viable, first-choice career options for Ontario youth.

skillsontario.com: The Ontario Technological Skills Competition & Career Exploration Showcase
1900 Competitors, 30,000+ Spectators, 60+ skilled trade contest areas, Over 325,000 square feet, Elementary, Secondary and Post-Secondary Students
Monday, April 30 and Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Waterloo, ON

skillsontario.com: The Ontario Technological Skills Competition & “Think Skills…Think Future!” Young Women’s Conferences
Mentor Registration: A mentor is a woman who works, trains or teaches in a skilled trade or technology field and is willing to share her positive career experiences with the student participants through informal networking activities.

Fulfill Your Dreams, and Have a Great Career in the Trades

Poster: Women Transitioning to Trades
Moving On celebration
Friday May 7, 2010
5 - 5:45 Food and reconnect
5:45 - 6:30 Guest spakers & video
Georgina Quartaro - Dean, School of Work and College Preparation
Elida Huignard & Martina Ernst - Wo-Built Inc.
Dee Smith - Home Improvement Technology & Services
Nadine Sookermany - Parkdale Project READ
Dixon Hall Video
6:30 - 7:00 Gifts and Thank Yous
Credit: georgebrown.ca

Women Transitioning to Trades is a George Brown College program (funded by the Ontario Women’s Directorate) that is designed to make the skilled trades and technician training accessible to women who are looking for safety, support, independence and control in their lives.

This program works with you to help you identify and assess your skills and career goals as well as the skills and training required for a wide variety of skilled trades.

If you are interested in exploring the world of trades - this is a fantastic program.
Women Transitioning to Trades Program

We were looking through some older files and came across an event last year we were invited to speak: George Brown's Women Transitioning to Trades.

We hope many of the young ladies from that course were able to fulfill their dreams to have a career in the trades.

We wish them all the best and much success.

Martina Ernst
President/CEO
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

Doors Open Toronto – Humber College Arboretum

Photos: Doors Open Toronto – Humber Arboretum
May 28, 2011 @ wobuilt.com

Humber Arboretum Centre for Urban Ecology
205 Humber College Blvd, Toronto, ON M9W 5L7
Event information: Visit the Humber Arboretum & Centre for Urban Ecology - a favorite location for photographers interested in modern architecture and nature alike. This site is where many Humber College photography, landscape, design, and media arts students learn their craft. Accordingly, student and staff work will be on display in the Centre with building and landscape tours scheduled throughout the day.
Architect and year: Taylor/Hazell Architects, 2007

This was a bit of a busman’s holiday, personally my first Doors Open Toronto. We had heard a lot about the Arboretum, LEED award winner, so we were interested. Granted it is a bit off the beaten path (427 and Finch), but once we found it, well worth the visit. Tucked behind the main college building, the Arboretum is located in the middle of a lovely garden park, nestling within the terrain. We were told that the park had oodles of wildlife (we saw geese and ducks), and we did enjoy sitting outside and talking to some of the visitors.

The building makes use of the slightly hilly terrain, a part of the energy efficient set-up. A teaching and research facility it packed almost all the known “green” systems into a small space and expressing them architecturally. The most visible systems of course are the sun shading slats on the south facing wall, reducing the high sun angles and the ventilation shaft in the center of the building, that extends 1 storey above the main floor and that facilitates the natural ventilation. Form follows function, making for interesting architecture. Rain water tanks for plant watering are buried into the hillside; behind the building are grey water recycling tanks, also used for plant irrigation. Other elements include green roofs, daylight and motion sensors, triple gazing, radiant heating, dual flush toilets and more. My favorite: large amount of daylight in the space.

The most interesting aspect of the building for me was the natural cooling system. Outside air is drawn into the building, directed into the basement which is several degrees cooler and then distributed to the warmer spaces where the air differential will have a cooling effect.

We were given an informative tour around the building and were assured that the environmental conditions are great and working there is a pleasure. As it is a small building all these systems are bound to be very effective as they can be finely tuned. They also would work very well for any other centrally controlled building (residential or non residential) provided there is enough space available to implement the measures. In multi-unit dwellings the implementation would become more complicated. Some measure such as green roofs, triple glazing, radiant heating, grey and rain water recycling, sun shading will all work as they are not part of individual choice. Ventilation and cooling is however a more personal matter. How much control would the individual units have to relinquish to make the natural ventilation and cooling work?

The Arboretum is an example and showcase on how any of these systems work. We need more examples accessible to the public to increase awareness of what can be done. We are committed to incorporate as many of these systems as possible in all our buildings. It is not necessary to incorporate all systems in each building. Even just one or two measures will make an impact over time. Going “green” is a valid way to reduce our footprint on the environment we live in, and we encourage anyone to take baby steps.

Martina Ernst
Wo-Built Inc. - Innovative Design and Build

link:
Doors Open Toronto 2011 Featuring City in Focus: Architecture + Photography

Wobinna, Our Animated Tradeswoman & Friends Have Their Own Blog

Collage: Screenshot Wobinna & Friends Blog
Copyright 2010 © Wo-Built Inc.

We would like Wobinna, our animated tradeswoman, to connect with younger women to encourage them to enter the building trades. We want to create story lines that through humour and information will persuade young women to consider the trades as a career or at least will provide food for thought and discussions....
Announcing Wobinna's Own Blog,
by Martina Ernst, CEO - Wo-Built Inc

Exciting news!!

Wobinna & Friends is branching out and will be moving to her own blog!!

http//wobinna.blogspot.com

Wobinna and Friends was created to encourage more women to consider the trades as a career option. We are hoping through her adventures and light-hearted style that a young generation of women searching for a career path will be able to relate, and they will realize that there are more career alternatives open to them than just the traditional ones. Wobinna & Friends is interested in all aspects of the construction industry and will reflect this in the storylines.

So please, tune in to our Wobinna blog and follow the exciting adventures of Wobinna & Friends every week.

Wobinna deserves her own blog.

Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

Are You an Internationally Trained Professional Woman? Apply for the Business Edge Program

Poster: Business Edge: For Internationally Trained Women Professionals
March 26-May 29, 2010, PDF brochure
Credit: rotman.utoronto.ca

We like to support many training initiatives for women, and we found this one hosted by the Rotman School of Management, U of T.

Business Edge:
A Program for Internationally
Trained Women Professionals

March 26 to May 29, 2010

• Workplace Effectiveness
• Language Fluency
• Development and Managing Critical Relationships
• Career Action Planning
• Post program Support
• Coaching
• Influencing
• Negotiation Skills

Apply today for this free program.

Application deadline: Wed. Feb 17, 2010
For more information call: 416-978-7066
Apply online at: www.rotmanexecutive.com/businessedge

Initiative for Women in Business
This intensive program is designed to support internationally trained women professionals as they navigate their careers in the Canadian workplace. It will help them build professional confidence and acquire relevant business skills in order to advance within their firms. The program will bring out a better understanding of the subtleties of the Canadian workplace and help them adopt ways that could make a positive difference to their professional work experience.
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Affordable Housing Opportunities in Toronto: the City’s Plan

Screenshot: Housing Opportunities Toronto:
An Affordable Housing Action Plan (PDF)
Housing Opportunities Toronto HOT Action Plan 2010 - 2010 -
a comprehensive 10-year strategy for meeting
the affordable housing needs of Toronto's residents
Credit: toronto.ca

Anyone who is interested in affordable housing in Toronto should read the City’s proposal for action for this new decade (2010 – 2020).

We are looking at this document very carefully to see if we can be part of the building of new and the renewal of the existing housing stock. These are large scale projects that would allow us to train women in the building trades and at the same time help the community.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

About HOT Action Plan
A new Toronto Housing Charter is a key component of the Housing Opportunities Toronto HOT Action Plan 2010-2020, adopted by City Council August 5, 2009.
The Toronto Housing Charter - Opportunity for All is the first of its kind in Canada. The Charter is designed to guide Council and staff in their efforts to assist those who often face challenges finding affordable housing, from newcomers and single parents to seniors and those with disabilities.
HOT contains 67 recommended actions to be undertaken by the City of Toronto and the federal and provincial governments. It calls for new investment of $484 million annually for the next 10 years to help 257,700 households struggling with high housing costs or inadequate accommodation.
HOT will serve as a roadmap to guide federal and provincial investments, as well as public and private sector activity.
Credit: toronto.ca: Housing Charter Highlights HOT

July 15th Workshop Session Revision

Flyer: Wo-Built Inc. and Wise Daughters Craft Market Design Workshop
"How To Be Green" - Cancelled

The "How to Be Green" workshop scheduled for tomorrow, July 15 has been cancelled, new date TBD.

We will keep everyone informed.

Career Possibilities for Women in the Building and Construction Trades

Screenshot: Possibilities Article: Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses
Credit: poss.ca

We would like to thank Possibilities for including us in the article which brings more awareness to women about the opportunities in the trades. This is especially important in an economic climate where jobs become more scarce. Then it is more easy to be discouraged to enter a non-traditional career. Hence we need more encouragement not less.

Martina Ernst
CEO
Wo-Built Inc.

Screenshot: Possibilities Article: Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses
Credit: poss.ca

Breaking Stereotypes, Building Houses

January 2009

A woman on a construction site may still be considered a novel idea but there is room for handywomen in the building trades. If some employers still resist the notion, many recognize that women bring valuable skills to the construction industry.

And although not every woman has the aptitude for working in the skilled trades the provincial government and organizations such as On-Track for Women are encouraging them to at least think about exploring the trades.

"For your own sake, please don't exclude yourself from these careers because they are lucrative or can be lucrative," says Marie Heron, executive director of On-Track, which offers a pre-employment program for women and helps link women to apprenticeships. (Currently On-Track is partnering with Centennial College to offer a free Automotive Service Technician Pre-apprenticeship Program.)

The minute you mention how much money you can potentially make working in the trades On-Track participants "buy in" to the concept, says Heron. Being able to apprentice and earn while you learn is what "really, really, really, really attracts women to the trades."

Still, the number of women in the trades is staggeringly low. According to statistics, women made up only seven per cent of workers in transportation, trades and construction work. And in some of the building trades, such as carpentry, the number drops to one per cent.

"It's a very male-dominated environment that we're trying change," says Colleen McDougall, an assistant instructor with The Centre for Skills Development & Training in Burlington, which offers the Women in Skilled Trade's Enhanced General Carpentry Program.

Sponsored by the Ontario Women's Directorate this 46-week course gives up to 22 women the chance to learn floor, roof and wall systems and partake in work placements.

Women "tend to undermine themselves a little bit," says McDougall, a former analyst who graduated from the program in 2005 along with her sister. She notes that women-only courses allows students to "put all the other stuff aside for the period that they're in school and focus. They get lots of support and they don't feel stupid and they don't feel weak."

Women are very capable at working in construction, but to succeed they have "got to be able to handle the tools and not be afraid of them," says McDougall. Although women considering the field should be fairly physical, McDougall notes that it is "not always about strength." For instance, she points out that women can learn techniques to help them lift heavy construction materials. (And do keep in mind that some female-identified careers, such as nursing, can involve a lot of heavy lifting as well.)

Excelling in Finish Work
Although the course trains women in both rough and finish carpentry, McDougall says that women often excel in finish work, working away at a project until they've mastered it. (Finish work is basically any work that won't be covered up, such as moldings or trim.)

"I think the women are very, very focused on detail," says McDougall. "I do think that they spend more time at it [then men] and maybe sometimes that could be a disadvantage, I guess, but for the most part it's a good thing."

Martina Ernst, chief executive officer of Wo-Built, a women-led construction company thinks those who do finishing work should "have a certain amount of perfectionism." Ernst and Wo-Built's president Elida Huignard are in the process of establishing a women-only training on the finishing trades at the Pre-apprenticeship Training (PAT) Institute. (Finishing trades include finish carpentry, drywall finishing/plastering, painting/decorating, tile setting and floor covering installation.)

Ernst thinks that finishing work is a good fit for women because women are often detail-oriented and the work is not as physically demanding as some other construction jobs. She points out that installing drywall takes a lot of physical strength whereas mudding and taping needs someone who is precise but not necessarily physically strong.

(Last year Ernst participated at a skilled trades forum held at Toronto City Hall. The PAT Institute's Rui Cunha, who also spoke at the forum, noted that women seem to excel at jobs that demand precision and dexterity such as working with network cabling or fibre optics.)

Employment Options
Although "some women are very comfortable working along side of men and swinging a hammer," this is not true for everyone, says McDougall. Luckily, for those who don't fancy the construction site, there are other options for women with knowledge about the construction industry and/or skills. For instance, you could find a job with a supplier or work in such areas as sales, purchasing, cost estimating, or construction site management.

Some women choose the self-employment route, working as a handywoman or renovator, which allows them to use a variety of skills and to have some flexibility with their hours. (According to On-Track's Marie Heron, 39 per cent of women in the skilled trades end up opening up their own business.)

And for those women who do want to work on a construction site, some companies are hiring a more diverse workforce, says McDougall. "There's a lot more women out there now and they're getting recognized," she says. "Initially that was a bit of a problem because they are just not typically seen on a site. That's changing. It's going to take time. We're not there yet, but [it's] definitely changing."

Credit: Possibilities: Toronto Online Employment Recourse Centre

Screenshot: toronto craigslist: city of toronto: skilled trades jobs: Handy-Women Needed!
Credit: toronto.en.craigslist.ca

technorati tags:
1 post tagged handy-women
7 posts tagged handy-woman
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7 posts tagged handywoman
5,669 posts tagged construction
18 posts tagged building trades

Wo-Built Inc. and George Brown College Are Joining Forces for Training Women in the Building Trades

Wo-Built Inc. and George Brown College are joining forces!!

Together we are looking into creating courses that educate women in various aspects of the building trades.

Please visit respective websites for updates.

Wo-Built Inc.
web-site: http://wobuilt.com/
e-mail: info@wobuilt.com
Continuing Education, George Brown College
web-site: http://coned.georgebrown.ca/

links:
Wo-Built Inc.: Training Programs
Wo-Built Inc.: Wo-Built Is Talking to George Brown about Training Courses for Women in the Finishing Trades
George Brown College, Continuing Education: Technology & Trades Information Session in December
Day: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Casa Loma campus, 160 Kendal Ave., Toronto, Building C
Room: Lobby

technorati tags:
8 posts tagged George Brown College
22 posts tagged Wo-Built Inc
16 posts tagged building trades
1 post tagged finishing trades

Fun Questionnaire to Finding out If the Finishing Trades Are for You

Wo-Built's Fun Questionnaire
See if the Finishing Trades (tiling, painting, finishing carpentry, woodworking etc) are for you.

Trying to decide on a vocation? Thinking of changing career paths? Or just interested in learning something new? Not sure if the finishing trades are for you?

Take this fun questionnaire below and see what the scores say about you.

1	Do you like to use your hands to make objects?	[Yes]	[No]
2	Do you like Art and Crafts?	[Yes]	[No]
3	Have you helped fix things around the home?	[Yes]	[No]
4	Have you painted a room in your home or at friends?	[Yes]	[No]
5	Have you done woodworking before?	[Yes]	[No]
6	Have you ever built a toy, bird’s house, doll’s house?	[Yes]	[No]
7	Are you alright with getting your hands dirty?	[Yes]	[No]
8	Do you like doing physical activities?	[Yes]	[No]
9	Are you patient?	[Yes]	[No]
10	Are you detail oriented and neat?	[Yes]	[No]
11	Are you interested in how buildings are put together?	[Yes]	[No]
12	Do you think you would like to design and build cabinets?	[Yes]	[No]
13	Do you think you would like to tile kitchens, paint rooms?	[Yes]	[No]
14	Do you like watching renovation shows?	[Yes]	[No]
15	Do you think tiling, painting and woodworking can be fun?	[Yes]	[No]

10-15 answers YES:
You will do really well in the finishing trades.

6-9 answers YES:
Not all aspects of the trades appeal to you but there might be specific areas of interest that are worth pursuing.

0-5 answers YES:
This score does not mean that the trades are not for you, however it does indicate that you are still unsure if you would like them. You should think more about the finishing trades but also evaluate other options.

Many thanks for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.

Screenshot: WoBuilt's Pre-apprenticeship Training for Women

About Wo-Built's Pre-apprenticeship Training for Women

We are presently establishing our own pre-apprenticeship training programs in the Greater Toronto Area for the finishing trades, which deal with all the detail orientated issues, i.e. the door surrounds, the baseboards, the plastering, the flooring, tiling, cabinetry etc. - all the trades where a Woman's Touch for detailing and design is appreciated.
The course start date has yet be determined as we are in the process of revamping it to accommodate more applicants. It will be held at the Pre-apprenticeship Training Institute in Toronto. We are looking for women who are interested in making the finishing trades their career. Click here for the course outline and summary.
Not sure if the finishing trades are for you? Click here to fill out our "fun" questionnaire.

In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about the program and would like to be kept informed, please contact us on training@wobuilt.com.

Wo-Built Is Talking to George Brown about Training Courses for Women in the Finishing Trades

...want to have a career in the finishing trades?
interested?
this could be you...
2008 @ wobuilt.com

We are talking to George Brown College about Training Courses for women who want to learn about the building trades.

Further to our initiation of the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Course for Women in the Finishing Trades, Wo-Built has become involved in discussions with George Brown College to put together a similar course package that would focus on training for women who are interested in the skilled trades. These discussions are still in the preliminary stages, so keep checking our forum www.wobuilt.blogspot.com for further updates on the progress of these discussions.

www.wobuilt.com
info@wobuilt.com
(416) 402-2679

Firm works to get more women on construction sites
Wanted: A few good women.

After more than a quarter century on GTA construction sites, Elida Huignard realized what was missing was a women's touch. So, along with fellow architect Martina Ernst, they've launched Wo-Built Inc., a firm dedicated to increasing the number of females in the building trades.
With women now making up just an estimated 2 per cent of workers in the field, they know there's much work to be done. But since they established the company late last year, they've been able to sub-contract some of their home renovation work to females to do painting, tiling, plastering and cabinetry.
By early next year, they hope to have established a training and mentorship scheme that would see women working on job sites get exposure to different trades, hopefully through other women with experience. They're also looking to establish pre-apprenticeship programs with college and trade groups.
"There's a big opportunity in construction trades for women that is not being used right now," said Huignard. Among the barriers, she said, is the belief it's male-only work is too physical for females.
That's why finishing work has such great potential, Ernst said.
"It's the work you see, where a woman's attention to detail and patience are really an asset," she said.
Rolf Priesnitz, chair of apprenticeship programs at George Brown College, said training for groups under-represented in the skilled trades – such as women, aboriginals, and those who are the first generation in their family to attend post-secondary school – will be increasingly important if Ontario is to combat its looming shortage.

WOMEN AND EDUCATION
TheStar.com: Trades program offers lesson on repairing lives
George Brown pilot project turns at-risk women into in-demand skilled tradeswomen
Aug 27, 2007 04:30 AM
Daniel Girard
education reporter
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/250115

Pre-Apprenticeship Training Course for Women in the Finishing Trades

...want to have a career in the finishing trades?
interested?
this could be you...
2008 @ wobuilt.com

The Pre-Apprenticeship Training Course for Women in the Finishing Trades

The Pre-apprenticeship Training Course for Women in the Finishing Trades is ready to start! After listening to our applicants and addressing their concerns and issues we are ready to go! So apply now and be ready to start a new career in 2009!

When: January – May, 2009
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Saturday & Sunday

Where: The Pre-Apprenticeship Training Institute
10 Kodiak Crescent, Unit 100
Toronto, Ontario M3J 3G6

Class size: 8-10 students (women)

Cost: $3500 + GST

Application forms: Please go to our website wobuilt.com or contact us at training@wobuilt.com

Course profile:
This program focuses on the development of both practical and problem solving skills that will provide students with little or no previous experience in the construction and maintenance field with the necessary skills to seek employment in this industry.

We are looking for women who want to make the finishing trades their career. Upon successful completion of the course we at Wo-Built Inc will help you find employment within the finishing trades.

The program exposes you to various aspects of building systems, reviewing work orders, projects and maintenance problems. Students also study life safety systems, plumbing, electrical, and communication skills.

The course is a certificate course with an overall passing grade of 75%. The assessments are project based and graded. And!!! Best of all: A cool graduation party at the end of the course.

Graduates of the course will be able to perform day-to-day tasks such as maintaining building systems, receiving work orders and completion general construction tasks such as:

• Wood Framing
• Painting
• Taping/Dry walling
• Finish Carpentry
• Blue Print Reading
• T-bar installation
• Tiling ceramics
• Basic plumbing (installation of sinks etc)
• Basic electrical repairs
• Home Preventative Maintenance
• Building Code Requirements
• Health/safety knowledge

For more information or for an application form, please go to our website wobuilt.com and register today. Explore the possibilities for a new and rewarding career!

links:

Wo-Built's Pre-Apprenticeship Course Outline for Women in the Finishing Trades...want to have a career
Wo-Built Inc.: We Have a Date for Our First Pre-apprenticeship Course
Wo-Built Inc.: Pre-Apprenticeship Training Course for Women in the Finishing Trades
Announcement: Pre-Apprenticeship Course for Women
Wo-Built Inc.: We Are Rethinking the Pre-apprenticeship Course

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Toronto's Lakeshore Community: A Neighbourhood in Transition

Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area Map

Created by: Survey and Mapping Services (WS), March 2006

Settling into our New Locality

Lakeshore Village BIA
The Lakeshore Village BIA was recently expanded and now runs along Lakeshore Blvd. from Twelfth Street to the west and Dwight Avenue to the east. This area was formerly known as the New Toronto Businessmen's Association, which was incorporated in 1948. In 1982 the BIA changed its name to the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area, and they implemented a streetscape improvement plan that included the installation of decorative lamp posts, planters and over 100 trees. This infrastructure is in place today and has been paid for and maintained by the local merchants.
There are over one hundred and fifty businesses in the Lakeshore Village Business Improvement Area with an excellent assortment of businesses, restaurants, shops and services that cater to the local community.
Website: www.thelakeshore.ca
Credit: TABIA: Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas

When Wo-Built was looking to expand, we had the entire city of Toronto at our disposal. So with this vast area to choose from coupled with the fact that our business is not local but GTA-based, how did we come to settle on the Lakeshore area? Aside from the fact that the price was right, the Lakeshore area, a very quaint corner of the city seemed to be a bit of an enigma. Although it had a long-standing reputation for not being one of the better communities in Toronto, it seemed that the neighbourhood lived side by side with majestic homes, seedy apartment complexes and neat family homes. It lacked the big-box stores, the trendy coffee houses or the fast-food franchises that most other neighbourhoods seemed to be built around. Instead it boasted the serenity of a lakeshore, quaint little shops and family eateries - everything Wo-Built needed to have a successful base. It was TTC accessible and had a number of necessary amenities such as banks and variety stores for basic every-day needs within close proximity.

Having been here awhile, it appears that this community is in a tremendous transition and with transition comes opportunity. Where some storefronts seem to be sporting an "Out of Business" sign, there can be seen a smattering of new businesses. Ethnic eateries, entertainment spots and a few dry-goods shops are inching their way into the area to complement the already long-established businesses. And with an ever-changing demographic there appears to be much room for growth.

As a young company we have come to appreciate the many benefits the Lakeshore area has presented. Our vision is that many more businesses take advantage of the tremendous benefits that the Lakeshore has to offer. We can visualize a fully-revitalized area with little boutiques of all sorts, local entertainment spots and eateries without losing its unique flavor. And as our company grows we can give back to the community by providing local employment through our social mission of training and mentoring of women as well as helping other starting businesses with their ventures.

As a new member of this community we were excited about getting to know our neighbouring residents through local events such as the Mimico's Party in the Park. The Lakeshore area is going through a great deal of revitalization, and Wo-Built Inc. hopes to be a part of this revitalization in a big way.

________________________
Lonya is the staff writer for Wo-Built Inc.

links:
Etobicoke-Lakeshore Community Links
Lakeshore Toronto's Village by the Lake
Lakeshore Community Partnership facilitates and encourages investment from all sectors of the Lakeshore to foster stable employment, a healthy community and a vital economy.
Ourlakeshore.net is a neighbourhood revitalization initiative by neighbours, for neighbours. We have residents, business owners, and politicians working together to promote and improve New Toronto / Lakeshore Village.

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