OYAP Panel
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Emily Pyke
Emily Pyke is a red seal automotive service technician at Heffner Lexus in Kitchener, Ontario. Her story began when she took an auto course in high school and fell in love with the trade! 8 years later and her passion for cars continues to grow!
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Hannah Hempinstall
Hannah Hempinstall is a 23 year old Automotive Service Tech Journeyperson. She has recently completed her apprenticeship and is preparing to write her Red Seal Exam to become a fully licensed Automotive Technician. "Growing up, university after high school was always my plan. As a kid I spent a lot of time on the back of my Dads bike and going to vintage car shows. If it had wheels and an engine, I was into it. But the thought never crossed my mind that it could be a career for me. That changed in grade 11 when my Mom suggested I take an auto class. She said if I wanted to drive a car, I needed to know how to change a tire and check my own oil. I was fortunate enough to have a shop teacher who welcomed me into his class and encouraged my interest in the trade. I fell in love with wrenching, and the rest is history! I pursued an auto apprenticeship right out of high school and have never looked back. My Grandfather is also a mechanic, so it seems it’s been in my blood all along. Conquering this male dominated industry day by day has its challenges, but the rewards keep me motivated towards my goal of building a successful career and mentoring other women into the trade."
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Jessica Duquette
Jessica was raised on a farm in a mining community in Northern Ontario. As long as she can remember she has been fascinated with the mining industry. Throughout her high school years she enjoyed hands on technical programs. Prior to graduation she jumped on an opportunity to sign up for a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) specifically for mining. SHSM is a specialized program that allows students to gain credits toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and focus their learning on a specific economic sector at the same time. The program proved to be a great experience. Jessica learned that she loved mechanics. The experience ignited her desire to understand how everything worked. She considered automotive and other mechanical programs but none were specific to mining. While looking into her options, she discovered an "Industrial Millwright Mechanic" program and decided to go for it, it was perfect. Jessica loves being a Millwright apprentice, she has learned so many things. She works on something new almost every day and never gets bored. She has realized there is a place for everyone in the skilled trades. Jessica is also a KickAss Careers Ambassador.
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Laurin Padolina Laurin went from Broadway to barns and from character heels to working at heights As a new mom, her major career change from musical theater to welding was born out of necessity. She needed financial stability and a new career that was equally adventurous and fulfilling as the arts had been. In 2018 she attended a 4 month pre-apprenticeship program with The Technical Trade Group offering students multi-exposure to welding and fabricating. Her introduction to welding quickly turned into an apprenticeship and launched her into a dynamic career as a welder. Laurin loves engaging with both youth and mature students as she shares about her journey from theater to blue collar trades. She is a member of the AMDSB and TTG speakers bureau and a proud ambassador for Kickass Careers.
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Brandy Bundscho
Farming is what Brandy was raised on. She'd done it all her life and when she was introduced to welding in grade 9 shop class, she knew she wanted a job that had both farming and welding. "The summer after grade 11 I found a job with VanNes Custom Welding; which is a business that focuses mainly on argicaurtle repairs and instals. Going into grade 12 I started with co-op and right away I knew where I wanted to do my placement so I called up my boss and right away I had my placement but I didn’t just get a co-op placement I actually also got signed as a welding apprentice with this company. Since I was still in highschool and getting my apprenticeship started I enrolled as an OYAP student. This way the government actually helped with covering for the cost of my schooling. I was doing my co-op during the day then attending my first level of schooling in the evenings twice a week from 6-10pm. I will say that it was a lot but I don't regret what I did because if I didn’t I wouldn’t be this close to being done. My apprenticeship is with the Technical Training Group right here in Stratford. (They run multiple programs for welders and metal fabricators, their classes also run in the evenings after most people's work hours). Right now I am in my last year of schooling so when I finish my final level (3) and all my required hours I can go write my RedSeal test and become a RedSeal Ticketed Welder."
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Speaker Panel
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Clarice Ward
Clarice Ward is a Project Manager, Specialty Contracts at Melloul-Blamey Construction, one of Ontario’s largest open shop general contractors. An advocate for the extensive opportunities within the construction industry, and a powerful voice for equity, diversity, and inclusion, she currentlyserves on the Board of Directors for Skills Ontario and at the Canadian Centre for Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (WinSETT). Clarice was the first woman to receive the prestigious Premier’s Award in 2019 for the Apprenticeship category; Colleges Ontario’s highest honour. In 2021, Clarice was awarded Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 in the Mercedes-Benz Emerging Leaders Category.
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Jennifer Cowdrey
Jen is an electrical/chassis/HVAC quality engineer at General Motors CAMI Assembly. She holds a motive power technician diploma, as well as mechanical engineering technician diploma from Fanshawe College. She has worked in the automotive sector since 2008, and enjoys the fast-paced, hands-on environment!
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Samantha Cormier
Samantha Cormier works for Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on the Darlington Refurbishment project as a Field Construction Coordinator within the Constriction Services organization. She holds a Certificate of Qualification as a Construction Millwright (426A) and has worked in the construction and nuclear industries for just under ten years, having started her apprenticeship in 2012. She is currently the Controlling Authority and lead of the Refurbishment Space Allocation and Management (RSAM) program.
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Kendra Liinama
In April 2020, Kendra volunteered at a Skills Ontario Young Women's Conference, and at that point, she'd never seen another female millwright apprentice in person. In that moment, she knew she wanted to be one of those women one day. "I wanted enough confidence to tell all those young girls not only do I love my job but I'm passionate about it, and what I do, all the differences I make as a woman in the workforce and the huge accomplishments we can achieve together." Now, Kendra is a a millwright apprentice at Vale and a consistent trades represenative for Cambrian. "Growing up, I didn't realize this was an option for me, but now that I'm here, I can't believe there was ever anything else to considered."
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Maria Ranagel
Maria is an Industrial Engineer, with 11 years of experience in the Manufacturing Industry. She started working as an Industrial Engineer for Magna International (Seating Division) 8 years ago when she arrived in Canada. She had the opportunity of designing the first materials’ sequencing area of Magna Seating North America which was later replicated across multiple Magna Seating divisions within the region. She has obtained her Project Management Professional certification (PMP) and is currently working to obtain the Business Analysis certification. She is currently performing the role of Product Engineer, and is responsible for Product Launches and Change Management for Magna Seating Division located in Mississauga, Ontario.
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Keynote Speaker
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Kate Campbell Kate was raised in Georgetown, Ontario and has a passion for adventure and travel. She found her passion for carpentry after taking a skills course for women. She is a strong advocate for women in the skilled trades and speaks to students and apprentices across the country. Her television career started at Holmes on Homes, where she worked on and off camera as an apprentice carpenter. Her jump to the outdoors was a result of a job offer from Paul Lafrance of Deck Wars, Decked Out, Disaster Decks and Custom Built. Kate has been featured on HGTV’s Home To Win, Island of Bryan, and Family Home Overhaul. Kate began buying and flipping homes during her off seasons. After her latest sale, she packed up and headed to Nanaimo, BC. Kate is the real deal when it comes to an authentic voice for women in the skilled trades. She lives the experience every day, on and off camera.
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