A new program at Lethbridge College aims to provide an opportunity for women looking to enter trades with a tuition-free introductory course this summer.
The Journeywoman Start program is a collaboration between the college and Women Building Futures, an Edmonton-based non-profit that aims to improve female representation in trades. It will consist of a 12-week class that combines hands-on training in a variety of trades with career development, networking with industry partners and more academic instruction.
Education like this in trades and business is often a crucial way to make connections with potential mentors, partners and employers, with business card printing being as much a part of preparation as studying.
The program will include trades such as welding, carpentry, electrical work and plumbing, and it will cover topics like basic safety certifications, how to gain further training and financial literacy.
Lethbridge College is a hub of trades education, with the School of Trades currently educating 957 students through 18 programs, but it is looking to increase the proportion of women it has enrolled. The application process will be treated similarly to a job application, with a submission of a resume, an interview and a fitness test.
Lethbridge College's Journeywoman Start program will begin in July. Applications will be accepted until May 10. Journeywoman Start will also be offered in Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
