Women in trades building 'sisterhood' by sharing knowledge, experience
A group meant to connect Edmonton women working in trades has amassed about 800 members in a matter of weeks.
Morgan Bosch, a mobile crane operator, says she was inspired to start YEG Blue Collar Women about two months ago after attending the Tradeswomen Build Nations conference in New Orleans.
"We have a committee within our union, which is great, but I wanted to bring it on a bigger scale," she said.
She began her trades career nine years ago as a labourer, wanting a job that would give her financial security – a common theme amongst the women CTV News Edmonton spoke to.
But she was frequently the only woman on a work site and sometimes overlooked because of her gender.
"There's a lot of sites that I drive off to where I'm the only crane operator on site and I'll pull up and they ask me, 'Where's the crane operator?'" she told CTV News Edmonton. "I definitely have to prove myself every day."
As the number of women she works alongside increases, so does the need for knowledge sharing and community.
"I can go to this group and say, 'Hey, I'm struggling with this. Do you guys have any tips and tricks?'" welder Kimberly McLean told CTV News Edmonton during an interview at the beginning of November, when YEG Blue Collar Women met for a walk in Edmonton's river valley.
"They've been there. They've done that. They know how to work around the system and how to do things easier and make it so that we're just as successful as the men."
Skye de Groot, another welder, said of recently completing her journeyman, "They were the ones who reached out to me and gave me knowledge and books and information that I don't think I would have passed without."
"I've been doing this for 20 years and when I started, there was nothing like this…. We just kind of fended for ourselves," McLean added.
"We're a team. We've got each other's backs. We're a sisterhood."
The group doesn't only talk about work. They have planned to get together for craft activities and a networking event at NAIT.
They also encourage other girls and women to pursue trades careers if they're interested.
"It's such good money and especially some of them are only three, four years of schooling. So what's three to four years of your life?" Bosch asked.
"I love the satisfaction of going to work every day and building something and completing it," McLean told CTV News Edmonton. "I can look back and say, 'Hey, I built that building,' or 'Hey, I helped to build that project or worked on that refinery,' and I have a sense of accomplishment when I'm finished a project."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nahreman Issa and Darcy Seaton
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Post strike: Union 'extremely disappointed' in latest offer, negotiator says
A negotiator for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) says the latest offer from Canada Post to end the ongoing strike shows the carrier is moving in the "opposite direction."
Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
Digging themselves out: With Santa Claus parade cancelled, Londoners make best of snowy situation
Londoners continue to dig themselves out from this week’s massive snowstorm.
Canada's air force took video of object shot down over Yukon, updated image released
The Canadian military has released more details and an updated image of the unidentified object shot down over Canada's Yukon territory in February 2023.
Why finding the suspected CEO killer is harder than you might think
He killed a high-profile CEO on a sidewalk in America’s largest city, where thousands of surveillance cameras monitor millions of people every day.
Sask. doctor facing professional charges in circumcision case
A Saskatoon doctor has been accused of unprofessional conduct following a high-cost adult circumcision that included a request for the patient to text unsecured post-op pictures of his genitals.
An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on
France's iconic Notre Dame Cathedral is formally reopening its doors on Saturday for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019.
Man arrested after 16-hour standoff with Barrie police seeks to be released from custody
The 43-year-old man taken to hospital in distress following a 16-hour armed standoff with Barrie police last month is seeking bail.
Facing the holidays without family ties or the romantic partner of your dreams? Here's how to make this season fulfilling
While the holiday season is often a time rich with cheer love and family connections, it can also be a painful reminder of what once was.