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Okanagan College is hosting the Trade Up – Empowering Women in Trades conference Oct. 16 and 17.
The conference, which takes place at Okanagan College’s Kelowna Campus, provides an opportunity for women working in trades to find out about becoming a mentor to other women in the industry or trades students. Information will also be available for women who would like to be mentored or learn more about careers in trades.
The conference begins Friday evening with three guest speakers, followed by a networking reception in the Atrium at Okanagan College’s new Centre for Learning. Conference workshops will run Saturday throughout the day, starting with keynote speaker Kevin Evans, Chief Executive Officer of the Industry Training Authority.
“The Empowering Women in Trades conference was in part inspired by the success of the College’s Women in Trades program,” said Nancy Darling, Program Administrator for Okanagan College.
“We have been offering Gateway to the Building Trades for Women programs and as a result, have a growing number of women well on their way to completing their trades training who are now looking for networking opportunities. The conference will provide that opportunity and will also be of interest to women considering entering the program or following a career path in the trades.”
Darling noted that women who complete the Gateway program and graduate into trades foundation programs have opportunities in a variety of trades like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer, Electrical, Plumbing, Welding, Automotive Service, RV Technician, Automotive Collision Repair, Automotive Paint and Refinishing, Heavy Duty, Carpentry, and Culinary Arts.
Federal and Provincial Labour Market agreement funding was provided by the ITA for the Gateway program’s first four intakes earlier this year in Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Chase. With second intakes already underway in Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon, the College is currently building waitlists that will determine where the 2010 programs are offered.
To find out more about the Empowering Women in Trades conference or the Gateway to the Building Trades for Women programs, contact Maura Lucente at (250) 762-5445 ext. 4825 or go online: www.okanagan.bc.ca/wtti.
Tags: Okanagan College
