They call her a trailblazer.
Victoria-based sheet metal worker Amy Carr was recently honoured for her work as a tradesperson at the B.C. Construction Leadership Awards.
B次元官网网址淚t was nice that they were recognizing women and nice to be thought of that way by my peers, who nominated me,B次元官网网址� says the Red Seal certified journeyman who is also a mom of three and a part-time little league coach.
Carr was nominated by a union sister who described her as a role model for women in the sheet metal trade, who B次元官网网址渃ontinuously seeks to improve and expand her knowledge and skills.B次元官网网址�
Along with serving as the safety officer in her shop at Lewis Sheet Metal, Carr is a member of the Vancouver Island Construction Association and the joint apprentice committee of Build Together, a national program that supports and mentors women in the skilled construction trades.
In March, she was part of the Build Together team that secured $1.8 million in funding for pilot projects aimed at women in the trades.
The funding is to be directed toward providing courses in shifting the culture around women in the trades, community outreach, and working with trades schools to encourage women to stay in their jobs.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so much focus on recruiting women to work in the trades, but not enough on retention,B次元官网网址� Carr says, pointing to the fewer than three per cent of all apprentices in construction and industry trades who are women.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 hard, itB次元官网网址檚 not always easy on job sites,B次元官网网址� she says, crediting her carpenter husband for keeping her going when the going got tough.
B次元官网网址淲e all have our struggles on the job, as males and females, thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot to learn, but women seem to have it a little harder,B次元官网网址� she says.
The good part, Carr says, is more women are coming up in the trades, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what is needed: B次元官网网址淲omen supporting other women.B次元官网网址�
Of the six B.C. tradespeople honoured alongside Carr for their contributions to the construction workforce, three others were women.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e getting there, weB次元官网网址檙e starting to get the respect,B次元官网网址� she says, hopeful for the progress she sees. B次元官网网址淥ur work and our work ethic is proving we have a place and we belong there.B次元官网网址�
The awards were hosted by the B.C. Construction Association (BCCA), the four Regional Construction Associations, the Industry Training Authority, WorkSafeBC and the provincial government.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great privilege to honour the hard-working women and men who are the backbone of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 construction sector,B次元官网网址� said BCCA president Chris Atchison.
Over 225,000 British Columbians currently work in construction and the skilled trades, supported by 24,000 employers.
B次元官网网址淭he numbers are impressive,B次元官网网址� Atchison said. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 crucial that we stay focused on the individuals and businesses that rely on us to make choices that ensure a productive and resilient sector.B次元官网网址�
kristyn.anthony
