The Peterborough and the Kawarthas Home Builders Association (PKHBA) is hosting an information and networking event on Wednesday (March 19) to launch a new mentorship program that will encourage and support women and female-identifying individuals working in the trades.
The launch event, which will include snacks, is taking place at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Lakefield (3001 Lakefield Road) from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
“There are more females in skilled trades and it’s nice to have an opportunity to celebrate that,” says PKHBA executive officer Rebecca Schillemat. “There are a lot of obstacles that females have overcome, and this is an opportunity to celebrate that and recognize that a lot has been achieved just with having a successful career in skilled trades.”
Since 1956, PKHBA has been a network of local professionals in the residential construction industry working towards the development of sustainable businesses and advocating for effective policy. To inspire more women into the industry, the association has connected with members and local school boards to form a committee around women in trades.
“The purpose of the committee is to help interest more young people and more young females to get into skilled trades, but also to provide the support to help retain them in these positions,” says Schillemat.
Statistics Canada reports the proportion of non-management positions in trades, transport and equipment operators, and related occupations held by women in 2024 was only 7.9 per cent.
“The number that actually complete or stay in the field for longer than five years is way lower than that,” Schillemat says. “Our committee has been brainstorming and had females share some experiences and some thoughts on why women are not staying in skilled trades, so this committee is working to provide some practical solutions.”
“Its strategy and its intention was to look at what are the issues we are looking at right now and what are we looking at in the future,” adds Andria Cowan Molyneaux, the chair of the committee.
Molyneaux — the principal designer and founder of ACM Designs, a full-service design firm in Haliburton — knows first-hand how isolating it can be to be a solo female entrepreneur working in a male-dominated industry.
“We are there to talk about culture and how each and every person plays a role in creating a positive culture, and looking at how can we have these conversations in a constructive way,” she says of the committee.
Molyneaux believes one of the largest challenges is encouraging all people, including women, to see construction and the trades as a viable and rewarding career path. She notes that while she was growing up, working in the industry was thought to be “plan B,” which is a mindset she is passionate to change.
“Whether you’re an electrician or an engineer, there’s lots to be proud of because you’re building something really important,” she says. “We’re trying to change that conversation, or stigma and perception of the trades in general, and taking it a step further to acknowledge that the trades are a place for women and female-identifying individuals.”
“Now we’re saying you can go everywhere in this business. You can go to school, get an education, do an apprenticeship, pay your dues. This is a real opportunity.”
The committee is working with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, the Peterborough Victoria, Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board, and Fleming College to connect with students through an ambassador program. Industry experts will speak in schools and other events to inspire women wanting to enter the workforce to consider the skilled trades.
“If they go to a job site and maybe don’t feel as welcomed or they have a different expectation of what they get, it prevents them from taking the next steps and in trying to get a job or apprenticeship,” Schillemat says. “We’re working early to tell females what to actually expect on site, what is acceptable to happen on site, and when you need to stand up and say no, this shouldn’t be happening.”
Schillemat adds that hearing from role models can make all the difference for young women thinking about entering a skilled trades industry.
“If they think they’re the only female at the site, that can be very intimidating,” Schillemat says. “When women see women already doing it, it bolsters them to actually go ahead and follow something that they enjoy doing that they might be scared to try.”
To support those already started in the trades, the PKHBA will match experienced mentors in the association with those just entering the workforce to provide valuable and specialized insight. Depending on the needs of the mentee, they will be matched with an experienced female who will help them understand key specifics of the industry like marketing, entrepreneurship, culture, sales, and more.
“Getting this one-on-one opportunity to learn from a female who has been in skilled trades for quite a long time can really help if you’re just starting your career,” says Schillemat.
“It’s a period of time where you can have a candid conversation and tap into somebody’s skills and experience and ask them strategic questions about where they’re at, where they think they want to go, or get advice or manage a situation,” Molyneaux adds. “Mentorship can come from many different people be a nugget of five-minute conversation that helps you chart your path or change your choices.”
Molyneaux and representatives from the school boards will speak about the new program and mentorship opportunities during the March 19 launch event.
“At the end of the day, what we want is to encourage female-identifying people to come here, whether you’re going to be a part of design, a frontline carpenter, an electrician, or anything else,” she says. “It’s about helping the women and female-identifying individuals in a grossly underrepresented industry to feel like they’re empowered to keep going and to keep seeking out more opportunities.”
Space is limited and guests are encouraged to register online.
