Skills Ontario International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day
#InspireInclusion

Save the date! International Women’s Day Celebration Series
March 5 - 7, 2024 

aaaaaaaaaaaaa           aa      Register Here   REGISTER HERE

 

International Women’s Day is a day where “women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.” (Source)

Thank you to our International Women’s Day Sponsors: 

 

CPKC logo in red.    Yellow and black logo for Kiewit.   A photo of the blue logo for Workplace Safety & Prevention Services.

 

In-Person Host Sponsor

 

Orange and grey logo for Linamar.

 

 

 

                                                                                    Exhibitor Registration  aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa


Celebration Event for Young Women: Daytime Event - March 7, 2024
Target Audience: Grades 11-12

COST: $30 per student registration
*Registration Required 

9:00am - 2:00pm 

Celebration Event for Women in the Trades: Evening Event - March 7, 2024
Target Audience: Women and those who identify as female currenlty working and/or training in a skilled trade or technology career. 

COST: FREE to attend
*Registrtion Required

5:30pm - 9:00pm


Frank Hazenfratz Center for Excellence in Manufacturing

700 Woodlawn Road, W. Guelph 

New for 2024 we will be hosting our first ever in-person celebration event for International Women’s Day. This event will provide participants with the opportunity to meet with employers to learn about various training and employment opportunities, participate in various workshops designed to showcase the day-to-day tasks of a skilled trade or technology career, and hear from an inspirational keynote speaker!

In the evening, we will be hosting a celebration event to celebrate women in the skilled trades. This event will provide women in the skilled trades with the opportunity to network with other trades professionals, meet with Exhibitors specializing in products, programs and initiatives geared towards benefiting women in the skilled trades and hear from an inspirational keynote speaker!

 

Keynote Presentation by:

A close-up of a person smilingDescription automatically generatedEmily Chung: Emily is a proud mom of two teen boys who spend most of their time eating everything that's in the fridge! She owns and operates AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop in Markham. She is a licensed Automotive Service Technician, and Automotive Writer with various publications. She also teaches in the Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College and is currently completing her Executive MBA. Emily holds an honours Bachelor degree from the University of Waterloo in Psychology and Business, and her previous jobs include Psychometrist and Human Resources Associate. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Automotive Aftermarket Retailers of Ontario (AARO).

She has appeared on various media including Breakfast Television, Cityline, and the Marilyn Denis Show. She is passionate about her work; together with her staff, AutoNiche’s purpose is to bring better communication and client service to the auto repair experience. 

 

Workshops Offered: 

CPKC [Canadian Pacific Kansas City Rail]: 

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes when our trains roll by? All aboard for a captivating journey with CPKC at our Women in Rail Workshop. Let us take you through a day in the life, revealing the real action and stories that keep our trains moving. Feed your curiosity, discover the intricacies behind the trains you see, and the positive impact trains have on our environment and communities. Led by our accomplished female transportation and logistics professionals, this workshop drives into sustainability and safety, while exploring rewarding career opportunities. Engage with live demos that give you a firsthand look at the exciting world of trains plus seize the chance to win enticing prizes and take home our swag!  Join us as we keep North America moving and unlock your next thrilling adventure in the world of rail transport. Secure your spot now!\


Careers of the Future, presented by ICTC: 

*This workshops requires you to bring your own device (i.e. smartphone)

We are living in a time of intense technological change. Many of the jobs now becoming available didn’t exist a decade ago. Join this workshop put on by the Information & Communication Technology Council of Canada and the Next Generation Manufacturing Supercluster to explore the many career opportunities such as digital forensics technician, quantum computing programmer and artificial intelligence whisperer that no one has told you about. Advanced technologies continue to unfold, explore the many hidden career opportunities in this workshop!

Empowering workers, A workshop on Rights, Hazards and Control measures in the Trades, presented by the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services

Join this interactive session lead by Health and Safety professionals from Workplace Safety & Prevention Services. Participants will gain an understanding of their rights, see some real-world examples of health & Safety hazards in the Trades, and learn how engineering controls, training and PPE can protect workers. With years of experience in the industry, WSPS consultants will also share their insights about skilled trades related jobs in the Manufacturing, and Service Sectors.

 

Roller coasters, presented by Skills Samurai

This workshop will begin with a brief talk with the attendees about women in STEM/Trades, their hopes and interests. Attendees will then be divided into groups where they will design and build a paper marble roller coaster. This is a wonderful exercise of collaboration and working to create something that will be fun to test out.

Pulling Wire, Hosted by Southwire
This interactive session is designed to provide young learners with a hands-on experience in the world of electrical wiring. Our team will guide students through the basics of wire technology, emphasizing safety, innovation, and practical skills.

Skills Ontario Trades & Tech Truck

 

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Coding using Micro:Bits - Available On-Demand: March 5, 2024
Free to participate. Registration required.
Target Audience: grades 7 & 8
Watch the Tutorial

Join us for an engaging virtual workshop celebrating International Women’s Day with a focus on coding using the micro:bit. Our tutorial, available in both English and French, will introduce participants to this platform. We will explore the overall virtual online platform, explore some sample tasks, and discuss the connection to the physical micro:bit itself and the possibilities of other coding connections. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about a challenge that will follow the tutorial, where students can put their newfound knowledge to the test. Join us and unleash the creativity and innovation within you through the power of coding with the micro:bit!

 

“A Sit Down with…” – Available On-Demand: March 6, 2024
Free to attend. Registration required.
Target Audience: Grades 11-12
Watch the Sit-Down Series

We are pleased to offer this virtual series dedicated to sitting down with passionate tradeswomen to learn about their journey in the industry. During this one-on-one sit down, we will:

  • Introduce inspiring tradeswomen to a select skilled trade and/or technology career;
  • Discuss the challenges, inspirations and future outlooks in the skilled trades;
  • Discuss how to be an advocate and ally for inspiring tradeswomen;

 

Meet:  

A person standing next to a fire pitDescription automatically generatedJoanna Osawe: Joanna is the Sr. Business Development Manager at Burns & McDonnell and the President & CEO of WiRE – Women in Renewable Energy. Joanna attended Western University studying Languages, graduating with an Honours BA. Joanna has used her language skills in a focused, 15+ year management career at leading renewable and energy sector companies in Canada and the United States. By carrying complex projects through many stages she has seen firsthand the vital role renewable energy and emerging technologies serve in moving the Canadian, American and global energy mix forward. Joanna has been appointed to the Federal Sustainable Development Advisory Council, led by Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault. She looks forward to continuing to engage and contribute to the Council's success. The Council is made up of the Canadian public that represent the views of different provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, as well as environmental non-governmental organizations and business and labour organizations. 

 

 

Photo of Rokhaya Gueye. Rokhaya Gueye: Rokhaya is the Community Partnership Coordinator with the Carpenter’s Regional Counsil. She is a Carpenter and the Chair of the sisters in the Brotherhood Committee of the Carpenters Union Local 27. As a community servant, Rokhaya has, for the past 27 years, volunteered her time by working tirelessly to help various non-profit organizations both locally and abroad. Some of her most cherished heart-work has been her time spent as a mentor/coach with international students, Sponsorship Lead of the Manyatta Network, building playgrounds for children battling critical illnesses with Million Dollar Smiles and her years of service as a crew lead with Habitat for Humanity GTA. Rokhaya is passionate about social change, women & youth empowerment, construction, technology, community economic development and philanthropy. She also fervently believes that, “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful!’’ ‘Vouloir c’est pouvoir!’   

a photo of Stephanie McLean in a white hardhat and neon orange beanie with black text that says, "IBEW 353."Stephanie McLean:  Stephanie is a licensed 309A Electrician. She is super passionate about educating youth, especially young women about the electrical trade. Stephanie has partnered with Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN); a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship to individuals wanting help navigating the skilled trades. As well as giving youth and their families awareness about various skill trades.

 

 

 

View past International Women's Day & International Day of the Girl Events:

Celebrate International Women's Day with us as we #InspireInclusion and empower all those that identify themselves as women! Be a part of the change and show your support!