THUNDER BAY — Twelve women have begun a nine-week residential construction worker course.
The Labourers International Union of North America (LiUNA) is offering the course – a first of its kind for the union in northern Ontario.
Bryan Nieweglowski, manager of training at LiUNA Training Centre, said when organizing the course, it was important to make it barrier-free.
“We try to eliminate all barriers with anyone," he said
The course covered the costs of child care, transportation and lodging.
"We have people that come in from out of town from remote locations, so we wanted to make sure every barrier was covered, even if it's providing lunch every day, that there's never a reason that they can't participate. We even give PPE, hand tools, everything's provided,” he said.
The goal of the course is for women to be eager to join the construction workforce and have more skills so they're equipped to do construction-focused building, Nieweglowski said.
To some, construction can be seen as a male-dominated field, but with this women-only course, workers at LiUNA Training Centre aim to prove otherwise.
“Anytime we run a focus based more on women participation, let's face it, women could be some of the better workers in any field, and construction is one that we're lacking.
“We try and capture that audience to say that maybe they can come into this and get something out. We're all suffering in any trade and a skilled labour force and this is a demographic I don't see coming into it,” he said.
The course includes residential construction-based building principles from flooring systems, wall systems, roof systems, to exterior finishings with door and window installation, siding and roofing.
“The goal is to have two tiny homes built,” Nieweglowski said.
Ellyzabethe Gillies decided to join in to improve her current skills in construction and gain some new ones.
“I live out in the country and I'd like to build a house. These skills will definitely help me out,” she said.
It's helpful for many people to have a barrier-free program, she said.
“You start a program, and maybe you don't have family living here, so definitely it’s a great opportunity to get young women into this program for sure.”
Kasaydia Woodcock joins the program after completing a specialist high skills major in construction during high school.
“This is amazing. I can give back to the community and feel really good about it.
“I'm most excited to learn about the roofing. We didn't really get too much into that in school. My favourite part was building the walls,” she said.
It was only the first day, but Woodcock said it was going amazing so far and she is excited for all the teamwork to come.
A second cohort with an additional 12 women will start after this first cohort ends.
