YOU A ‘WOMAN IN CONSTRUCTION?’ YOU’RE UP FOR MUSKOKA TRADES AWARD. NOMINEES SOUGHT BY JAN. 11 FOR WOMEN OF DISTINCTION DINNER
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Know a woman with a pair of work boots who’s not making a fashion statement?
Has the rough hands of man and a rock grip to go with it? Or she knows which end of a gear stick to run a grader or back hoe?
Perhaps she sits in an office at a computer and can read blue prints and design a subdivision.
Maybe her job this week was plowing snow.
Is she your mom, sister, daughter or friend?
Well, the search is on for powerful women rocking their jobs in the Muskoka construction trades.
Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce is asking your help to nominate that ‘Woman in Construction’ who stands out.
The chamber wants to showcase women thriving in construction trades in Muskoka, and is supported by the District of Muskoka IDEA Project Team, Employment North, Fowler Construction, Robinson Haulage, Work Boot Consulting, YWCA Muskoka and a prestigious panel of judges.
Anyone in Muskoka can nominate a Muskoka tradeswoman. Just visit sheworks.ca or click https://shorturl.at/dm3Lt for the easy-to-complete form.
The nomination deadline is just a month away on Saturday, January 11, 2025.
Each nominee and their guest will be invited to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards at Hidden Valley Resort in Huntsville on March 8, International Women’s Day. One will walk away with the Muskoka’s Woman in Construction Award for 2025.
“At the chamber, we think success stories go a long way to attracting workers in construction and showcasing some of the amazing women out there working in the trades is yet another way to show how committed we are to connecting good staff to good employers,” says Norah Fountain, executive director of the Muskoka Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
Some ask why just women?
Fountain says there are plans to expand this workforce development project in the future, yet the fact remains that women are underrepresented in skilled trades. It’s one of the reasons why Fowler Construction immediately offered to help.
Sharing success stories of women in construction can inspire other women to get the training they need to succeed. Plus, women remain under represented and underpaid in this sector.
“Did you know a male journeyperson (all trades) after two years of certification makes almost three times as much as a woman with the same experience?” says Fountain. “Those are 2019 stats. We need to bring attention to the success of women in the trades to help change this.”
“At Fowler, we’re constantly looking for ways to increase diversity and remove barriers in our workplace,” says Fowler Construction’s Jaime Chapman. “We work to proactively attract women to our industry and support their growth, development, and careers within our organization.”
A rock star panel of judges from outside of Muskoka, including people from the plumbing, HVAC, millwright, floor covering and carpentry trades, along with the founder of Honour the Work, will select the winner.
The Woman in Construction will receive a beautiful award sponsored by Fowler and a special gift from Employment North.
The volunteer team for Muskoka’s Woman in Construction is thankful for the partnership and support of YWCA Muskoka.
Tickets for the YWCA Women of Distinction event are on sale at https://www.ywcamuskoka.com/women-of-distinction?mc_cid=0f2370017e&mc_eid=5156700ba2
Plus, the YWCA Muskoka Women of Distinction awards that also close Jan. 11 are open now.
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