Skills Ontario’s Young Women’s Initiatives is a collection of engaging and hands-on events and programs that provide skills development and mentorship opportunities to young women. Our department is excited to share the launch of our new quarterly reports.
These reports are a way for us to highlight the meaningful work our team has been doing throughout the year to inspire and support young women in exploring careers in skilled trades and technologies. These reports also give us an opportunity to recognize and thank the incredible partners, host locations, and collaborators who help make this work possible.
“You cannot be what you cannot see.”
Every young woman deserves the opportunity to discover her spark. By connecting young women with mentors, role models, industry professionals, and real-world experiences, Skills Ontario’s Young Women’s Initiatives help bring career possibilities to life. Participants gain exposure to rewarding careers in the skilled trades and technologies, explore available pathways, and develop the confidence to envision themselves in these exciting and in-demand fields. Together, we are helping shape a skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce for the future.
Through a variety of programs, events, and experiential learning opportunities, Skills Ontario’s Young Women’s Initiatives inspire, empower, and support young women as they explore the limitless opportunities available in the skilled trades and technologies. By fostering skills development, career exploration, and meaningful connections, we help participants discover their strengths and unlock their potential.
We are proud to launch our new quarterly reports, which showcase the impact of these initiatives and the collective efforts of the individuals and organizations helping to drive change across Ontario.
Within these pages, you’ll find stories, highlights, and achievements that demonstrate the power of collaboration in creating meaningful opportunities for young women. These reports also provide an opportunity to celebrate and thank our valued partners, educators, employers, host locations, mentors, and supporters who share our commitment to expanding opportunities and strengthening Ontario’s future workforce.
Together, we are opening doors, challenging perceptions, and empowering the next generation of women to thrive in the skilled trades and technologies.
We’d love for you to take a look and see what we’ve been up to!
Annual Calendar of Events
| Dates | Event | Location | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | International Women’s Day Celebration Events *First Thursday of March | Guelph, ON | Grades 10-12, post-secondary, apprentices, tradeswomen, advocates |
| May | Young Women’s Conferences *First Monday & Tuesday of May | Toronto, ON | Grades 6-12 |
| September – June | Skilled Trade & Technology Days for Young Women | Various Locations | Grades 7-11 |
| October | International Day of the Girl Celebration Events | Gravenhurst, Sudbury, & Ottawa | Grades 6-8 |
Thank you to our Young Women’s Initiatives Partners:
This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by
the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Program Partners
Skilled Trade & Tech Days for Young Women
Skills Ontario is proud to present a series of Skilled Trade & Tech Days for Young Women. Women remain underrepresented in skilled trades and technology careers, and early exposure to hands-on learning can play an important role in broadening awareness and sparking interest. These events provide young women with the opportunity to explore rewarding career pathways, connect with industry professionals, and learn about programs such as Co-op, OYAP, and SHSM. Through meaningful, experiential activities, participants can build confidence, discover new possibilities, and make informed decisions about their secondary and post-secondary journeys.
In-Person Events
Audience: Grades 9-10 *Audience may vary depending on the location.
COST: A $25.00 fee applies to each student registration for select locations only. Lunch is included.
Skills Ontario is proud to host our popular in-person Young Women’s Career Exploration events! Young women will have the opportunity to travel to a local college, training centre, or industry location to explore careers in the skilled trades and technologies through hands-on, experiential learning activities.
During the event, participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the wide range of skilled trade and technology careers available and the important role these occupations play in our communities and economy;
- Explore career pathways that connect to secondary school technology, science, mathematics, construction, transportation, manufacturing, and apprenticeship-focused programs;
- Develop awareness of the essential skills, workplace competencies, and transferable skills required for success in skilled trades and technology careers;
- Participate in interactive, hands-on workshops that provide authentic learning experiences and allow students to try tasks commonly performed in skilled trade and technology occupations;
- Strengthen career/life planning skills by connecting classroom learning to real-world applications and post-secondary opportunities in the skilled trades and technologies.
Industry Events
Audience: Grades 11 & 12
COST: A $25.00 fee applies to each student registration. Lunch is included.
Skills Ontario is proud to partner with industry employers to provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore careers in the skilled trades and technologies through workplace-based experiential learning. Young women will have the opportunity to visit an industry site, meet employers and skilled professionals, and gain firsthand insight into training, apprenticeship, co-op, and employment pathways available within the sector.
During the event, participants will:
- Gain an understanding of the employer, their role within the industry, and the products, services, and career opportunities they provide;
- Explore career pathways available through the organization, including apprenticeship, co-op, post-secondary training, and employment opportunities;
- Learn about the knowledge, technical skills, essential skills, and workplace competencies required for success in a variety of occupations;
- Participate in hands-on activities and workplace demonstrations that provide authentic exposure to the day-to-day responsibilities associated with skilled trades and technology careers;
- Connect classroom learning in areas such as technological education, science, mathematics, construction, manufacturing, transportation, and business to real-world workplace applications;
- Develop career/life planning skills by engaging directly with industry professionals and learning about pathways from secondary school to training and employment.
PLEASE NOTE: Depending on the host employer and workplace requirements, personal protective equipment (PPE), such as CSA-approved steel-toed footwear, may be required to participate.
School/Student Registration
Teachers and board contacts are to register students.
How Registration Works:
Each teacher or Board contact will register a group of young women for their choice of event. For all “regional events”, if a co-host is listed, workshops will be based off their programming/campus offerings. Please keep in a mind that each location will have a maximum capacity.
After registering, you will either receive a confirmation email confirming your total number of spaces or a waitlist email. If you are placed on a waitlist, you will only be contacted if a space becomes available.
Cancellation policy
Cancelled spaces will not be refunded after the registration deadline. However, substitutions are permitted. If spaces have not been cancelled, and there are no shows on the day of the event, you will be invoiced for those spaces.
If you have any questions, please contact lchester@skillsontario.com.
Regional Event Offerings
Below is a list of our Skilled Trades and Tech Day event offerings. Once a date is secured, it will be posted online and will not change unless an unforeseen circumstance occurs. At that time, a notice will be posted to our website and all registered participants will be notified. All event details will be updated as each date is secured in the chart below.
IMPORTANT: Most Industry Events require a signed consent form from a parent/guardian in order for students to participate. Consent requirements are determined by the host employer and may be related to workplace activities, site access, or safety protocols. Information regarding any required consent forms will be included in the event confirmation and registration materials.
| Date | Region | Location | Target Audience | Flyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | Gravenhurst | International Day of the Girl Celebration Event Muskoka Discovery Centre 275 Steamship Bay Rd, Gravenhurst, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 | |
| Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Sudbury | International Day of the Girl Celebration Event Science North *Bilingual Event* 100 Ramsey Lake Rd, Greater Sudbury, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 | |
| Friday, October 10, 2025 | Bracebridge | Georgian College 111 Wellington St, Bracebridge, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 | |
| Tuesday, October 15, 2026 | Ottawa | International Day of the Girl Celebration Event Canadian Science & Technology Museum *Bilingual Event* 1867 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 | |
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | North Bay | Try-A-Trade Career Fair Nipissing University *Bilingual Event* 100 College Dr, North Bay, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 / 9 & 10 | |
| Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Mississauga | Reliance Home Comfort – Industry Event 335 Britannia Road East, Mississauga, ON | Gr. 11 & 12 | |
| Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | Ottawa | Convergint – Industry Event 2170 Thurston Dr Suite 1, Ottawa, ON | Gr. 11 & 12 | |
| October 27 & 28, 2026 | Peterborough | Fleming College – Sutherland Campus 599 Brealey, Peterborough, ON | Gr. 9 & 10 | |
| Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Lindsay | Fleming College – Fleming College – Frost Campus 200 Albert Street South, Lindsay, ON | Gr. 9 & 10 | |
| Monday, November 2, 2026 | Brantford | Reliance Home Comfort – Industry Event 47 Morton Ave E, Brantford, ON | Gr. 11 & 12 | |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | Virtual | Sheridan College 7899 National Skilled Trades Week – Virtual Build | Gr. 4-6 | |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2026 | Fort Frances | La Place Rendez-Vous 1201 Idylwild Dr, Fort Frances, ON | Gr. 9 &10 | |
| Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | Dryden | Dryden Regional Training & Cultural Centre 100 Casimir Avenue, Dryden, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 / 9 & 10 | |
| November 24 & 25, 2026 | Sault Ste. Marie | Tenaris / Algoma Steel *Private Board Event* | Gr. 7-12 | |
| Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | Peterborough | Fleming College – Sutherland Campus 599 Brealey, Peterborough, ON | Gr. 9-10 | |
| Thursday, December 4, 2026 | Sault Ste. Marie | APR Welding Academy – Industry Event 566 Second Line E, Sault Ste. Marie, ON | Gr. 11 & 12 | |
| Thursday, March 4, 2027 | Guelph | International Women’s Day Celebration Event Frank Hazenfratz Centre for Manufacturing Excellence 700 Woodlawn Road, W, Guelph, ON | Gr. 10 – 12 | |
| Wednesday, March 10, 2027 | Sault Ste. Marie | Try-A-Trade Career Fair Quattro Hotel 229 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie, ON | Gr. 7 & 8 / Gr. 9 & 10 | |
| Tuesday, April 27, 2027 | Peterborough | Fleming College – Sutherland Campus 599 Brealey, Peterborough, ON | Gr. 9 & 10 | |
| Thursday, April 29, 2027 | Lindsay | Fleming College – Frost Campus 200 Albert Street South, Lindsay, ON | Gr. 9 & 10 |
Women in Trades Resource Hub
Collaborating Organizations
Skills Ontario is committed to advancing awareness, access, and opportunities for women in the skilled trades and technologies. We are proud to partner with organizations and groups that share our vision of empowering the next generation of skilled professionals. By working together, we can amplify our impact, break down barriers, challenge outdated perceptions, and inspire more young women to explore rewarding careers in these dynamic and in-demand sectors.
Through collaboration, mentorship, networking, experiential learning, and skills development opportunities, our partner organizations play an important role in supporting young women as they explore career pathways in the skilled trades and technologies. United by a common goal, we are creating meaningful opportunities for young women to connect with role models, build confidence, and discover the many pathways available through initiatives such as our Young Women’s Career Exploration Events and Young Women’s Conferences.
Together, we are helping to build a more diverse, inclusive, and skilled workforce for the future.
Contact us today to become a Collaborating Organization
