Women ready to ‘build better communities from the ground up’
In 2015, statistics canada revealed that 82 per cent of women were able to land some sort of employment across Canada. Compare that to a shockingly low 21 per cent in 1950.
It’s a hopeful jump, one that’s been obtained thanks to throngs of women earning more advanced degrees, taking leadership roles, and battling it out for positions despite continued (albeit improving) gender inequality in the workplace. Canada has proudly taken its place as a leading nation in improving working conditions for women.
But the work continues, and most certainly in specific sectors, where the disparity is glaring.
In construction, only 17 per cent of jobs are given to women. Statistics Canada reports that antiquated ideas still rule the roost – that men are more assertive, independent, decisive, powerful. Perhaps more damaging, however, is the fact that women lack influential mentors, colleagues and role models in this field. Without those, it’ll be tougher to bust those damaging, Their tagline on Google search is a start: “We are the men and women who shape and build better communities from the ground up.”
Carmelo Calcara, training director for LIUNA625, explains: “We do want to push this agenda that this industry is inclusive,” he says.
And they ’re doing that by offering LIUNA 625’s pre-apprenticeship training program for construction craft workers and cement finishers – and ensuring women are part of the conversation.
Although not specifically geared to women, the training program that enables participants to pursue the highly prestigious and sought-after Red Seal certificate does talk to women – and opens the door to a world that they may not have initially considered.
Calcara says when he began in the trade 30 years ago, there were no training centres with women. There may have been flaggers, he says, but certainly not elsewhere in the industry.
“I would say the change happened when utilities came around,” he considers. “Utilities isn’t as demanding physically, for one thing, so it’s less intimidating for those who think this might be too gruelling for them. But in utilities you need to have smarts, so the interest women had in it seemed natural.”
Calcara says this shift happened only a few short years ago.
The program today welcomes approximately two or three women each year, so it’s certainly still male-dominated, something LIUNA 625 is hoping to even out over time.
“It’s about trying to change the narrative,” says Calcara. “And it’s not even so much the current workforce that needs convincing.
“Women need to know they can do the work. Women have the smarts. Women need to push the intimidation factor aside, if that exists, and get rid of that roadblock,” he adds.
“It’s slow, but it’s happening. It’s changing for the good.”
Rob Petroni, LIUNA 625’s business manager, says that candidates become exposed to a vast world of opportunities in construction, including landscaping, communications, industrial, institutional, residential and commercial. he’ s eager for more women to discover and stake their place in an industry he feels allows people to feel fulfilled and gratified.
“In the last five years, we’ve recruited 33 women in our apprenticeship program,” he says. “We recruit and accept based on multiple factors, selecting the best candidate, regardless of gender.
“To have 400 resumes a year, 100 interviews, and an increasing number of women being recognized and included in the intakes… it’s a start to what we’re trying to do, which is to sustain women and other minority groups in this industry.”
Katelin Paxton, 25, started as a pre-apprentice last July and is now in field training working for Oscar Construction. She’s currently working on projects at St. Clair College.
The program piqued her interest, she says, when she started to consider how she might improve her life. “I just knew I wanted to go up,” says Paxton, whose background is in raising horses. “My boyfriend is actually in construction and knew how hard I worked at the farm, and that I’m not afraid to work.
“He suggested to me that I’d be a great candidate and that I could keep up with anyone there,” she says.
“It made sense, because I like working with my hands. I like playing with different tools. This was a way to get certification.”
Paxton admits that entering a male-dominated workforce was intimidating at first.
“I’ve always thought I’m a pretty strong person, and I thought, ‘It can’t be that hard,’” she says. “But I won’t lie. It still is a man’s world. The spotlight is on you at all times. Not everyone – not man or woman – is cut out to be in this field.
“But the opportunities you get versus the obstacles? It’s totally worth it. I’d welcome it all any time.”