A new scholarship is breaking barriers and opening doors for women in Bruce County.
The Canadian Federation of University Women Southport has announced its first-ever Women in Trades Scholarship to help address a critical shortage of tradespeople in the area.
Federation spokesperson Odette Bartnicki explained that the $1,000 scholarship will support local women pursuing careers in the skilled trades. She pointed to numbers from Statistics Canada and Skilled Trades Ontario.
"Only 8.1 per cent, or 7.4 nationally, of the 144 skilled trades recognized in Ontario are filled by women, and yet 51 per cent of the workforce is women," she revealed. "It kind of doesn't make sense when we're all looking for people to fill skilled trades jobs."
The new scholarship is being launched with support from local businesses, including Walker Homes, Interiors by Design, and Shorebound Contracting — contractors who say the trades need more skilled workers, and women bring valuable skills to the table.
"Women make up nearly half of the entire Canadian workforce, but the perception still exists that certain jobs, particularly those in the skilled trades, should only be done by men," Bartnicki continued. "In reality, women excel in all traditionally male-dominated careers."
She said women are talented in careers such as manufacturing, automotive, mining, welding, and electrical.
"The women in trades scholarship is a win-win for Saugeen Shores," Bartnicki told Saugeen Shores Council. "We know that here, we've got a high growth rate in housing needs, and other types of construction development, as well as green energy. "
She added that women who work in the skilled trades can provide for their families and contribute to the local economy. The first recipient of the CFUW Women in Trades Scholarship will be announced on September 10.
The CFUW Southport established a scholarship program in 1990, including six $1000 High School Scholarships for Girls who are graduating from St. Mary’s in Owen Sound or Saugeen District Senior School in Port Elgin. There is also a Mature Woman Scholarship for candidates who are out of school for at least a year. So far, the organization has provided over $90,000 in scholarships.