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Funding provided for women considering trades

(Special)—The Edmonton-based Women Building Futures Society is receiving funding of $267,500, it was recently announced.

The new funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada will go towards purchasing and installing videoconferencing equipment that will enable women to participate in the society’s application and assessment process directly from their communities.

Additional activities include completing and equipping workshops and space for staff in the Women Building Futures training centre, as well as establishing a customized client management database.

Industry also contributed funds toward the total project cost of more than $512,000.

Today’s investment follows previous funding of almost $2.5 million for Women Building Futures to convert an old warehouse in downtown Edmonton into Canada’s first trades training facility for women.

Due to the completion of the warehouse project, 133 per cent more women graduated in 2009 from Women Building Futures than in 2007.

“By delivering student assessments, skills training, workplace culture conditioning, job placement and job retention support, Women Building Futures helps women who are interested in pursuing non-traditional career paths build better lives and achieve economic security,” stated JudyLynn Archer, the society’s president and CEO.

Women Building Futures is a non-profit, charitable organization. Since 1998, it has consistently achieved a student graduation and placement rate that is 90 per cent or greater, by working directly with industry to ensure employment and providing follow-up services.

As a result, the organization is recognized by industry as a supplier of quality, apprenticeship-ready tradespeople. Currently, its students are primarily from the Edmonton and northeast Alberta area.

“A job in the skilled trades is a great way to earn a living, and today’s investment will allow women across Alberta to realize their full potential and contribute to their community and Canada’s economy,” said Western Economic Diversification Minister Lynne Yelich.

Western Economic Diversification Canada works with the provinces, industry associations and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.

For more information about Women Building Futures go to www.womenbuildingfutures.com.