These high school students are aiming to break down gender barriers in the trades

Yahoo

10-05-2025

While the trades might have a reputation as being a male-dominated field, high school girls are looking to roll up their sleeves to break down the gender barriers.
On Wednesday, dozens of young women in orange shirts converged on the College of the North Atlantic's St. John's campus as part of an event called Jill of All Trades. The event gives young women hands-on experience with trades like welding and auto body work.
Klaire Gardiner, a Grade 11 student at Gonzaga High School, says she wants to make a difference in the trade industry as a woman.
"I'm very interested in welding because it's hands-on," Gardiner told CBC News.
She says part of her interest in attending Jill of All Trades is to help explore different career options.
"I am interested in university, but I'm also very interested in trades. So today I came here to see what it's really all about and maybe this will change my mind for my whole entire future," she said.
WATCH | Step inside the 'Jill of All Trades' event:
"I definitely want to make a difference in the stereotype of males being in the trades industry and make a difference by being a girl in the trade industry."
Vera Eddy, a Grade 10 student at Gonzaga High School, says she has been looking into trade school for the last two years. She says she's interested in welding as well as working with cars or boats. Graduation might be years away, but Eddy says she wants to consider her options.
"You get time to think about what you can do that'll change your life," she said.
Both Eddy and Gardiner say the economic benefits of entering the trades is an incentive to enrol.
"Obviously it's great to have a good, stable life, and with a job you enjoy doing," said Eddy.
Trudy O'Neill, associate vice-president of campus operations at CNA, says another Jill of All Trades event will be hosted at the Bay St. George campus in a few weeks.
"Jill of All Trades is really about exposing young women to the emerging trades of today," said O'Neill. "To roll up their sleeves and dive in, to fix things, make things … it's going to be a great day for them."
She says the day is also about breaking down old notions that the trades are for men.
"I think there are still old ideas, and the Jill of All Trades event allows students to come together in a common community and really break through those barriers and hopefully put those old ideas aside," said O'Neill.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Click here to visit our landing page.