16-07-2025
Women's Skilled Trades Workshop provides opportunity to explore future career path
WEST Inc. of Windsor in partnership with UNIFOR Local 444 is hosting a week-long skilled trades workshop for women at the union HQ on Turner Road in Windsor. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
An in-depth look at learning a skilled trade is the focus of a week-long workshop in Windsor for women.
It's a free event this week for women aged 18 and up allowing participants to get an idea of trades training, apprenticeship opportunities and career paths.
This project is a collaboration between Women's Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor Inc. (WEST Inc.) and UNIFOR Local 444. On Tuesday, students were writing tests on some of the hands-on instructional work.
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WEST Inc. of Windsor in partnership with UNIFOR Local 444 is hosting a week-long skilled trades workshop for women at the union HQ on Turner Road in Windsor. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
Stephanie Allen is the program manager of skilled trades at West Inc.
Allen is pleased with the turnout so far and excited to see women interested and engaged in this opportunity.
'So they will be with other women that might want to pursue this and build a community of women in the trades and how they can support each other,' said Allen.
'And they can work together to help break down that barrier of what has been seen for a long time as a male dominated workplace, and how to create a safe space for women to do that.'
So far this year, WEST has celebrated a milestone, helping 376 women gain technical skills and empowering them to pursue careers in the skilled trades locally and abroad.
WEST Inc. has been educating, mentoring and supporting women in Windsor Essex. Their programs aid women in enhancing skills and securing employment.
On average each year WEST Inc. assists over 3,000 women in preparing for the labour market. The organization's programs are funded in part by the government of Canada and the government of Ontario.
