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They sanded. They torqued. They welded.

From automotive service and collision repair to carpentry, plumbing and aircraft maintenance, over 130 middle and high school students rolled up their sleeves and stepped into the world of skilled trades at Jill of All Trades, hosted at ����ר��’s Kelowna campus on May 22.

Designed to spark curiosity and confidence in young women, Jill of All Trades events offer a full day of hands-on workshops led by experienced skilled trades instructors and mentors —many of whom are industry professionals and ����ר�� (OC) Trades and Apprenticeship alumni.

This week’s event was the third Jill of All Trades held by OC over the past two years and more are scheduled.

“Events like Jill of All Trades are a great opportunity for industry mentors to help create a more inclusive trades experience and community,” said Lindsay Black, Red Seal refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic with Kimco in Kelowna and OC alumna. “I hope that students leave feeling empowered, knowing that there are many rewarding paths open to them — and just as many people ready to support them along the way.”

A national initiative embraced by institutions across Canada, Jill of All Trades is part of OC’s commitment to building inclusive, future-ready learning environments and addressing the skilled trades gap. In addition to offering priority seats to female and Indigenous applicants in its Trades Foundation and apprenticeship intakes, the College recently announced the ACTION Project (Apprenticeship Completion, Training, Innovative Opportunities and Networking), focused on helping more apprentices complete their training and thrive in the industry.

“These initiatives are essential, as the need for skilled trades professionals has never been greater,” explained Sam Lenci, provost and VP academic at ����ר��. “With more than 700,000 skilled trades workers expected to retire across Canada in the coming years, the country is facing an urgent shortage. Women remain underrepresented, making up less than four per cent of workers in many of the most in-demand trades across the country.”

Krista Paine, a Red Seal carpenter, registered interior designer, owner of Ian Paine Construction and Design and president of the Central Okanagan Home Builders Association, opened the day with a keynote address that inspired the crowd.

“When I was starting out, nobody told me the big secret — that a future in trades offers both stability and freedom,” shared Paine. “And learning from passionate, industry-trained instructors, like those at ����ר��, is something you truly can’t put a price on.”

Last year’s Jill of All Trades in Kelowna led to 30 full-time enrolments in trades programs at OC. This year, organizers hope to inspire even more.

“While we’re encouraged that women now make up over seven per cent of our apprentices, slightly above the provincial average, there’s still more work to do,” said Stephen Speers, dean of trades and apprenticeship at ����ר��. “Our participation in Jill of All Trades is one of the many ways we’re breaking down barriers and showing young women and gender-diverse youth that they belong in trades. It’s about creating space, building confidence and making it clear: their future in the skilled trades isn’t just possible — it’s needed.”

Learn more about skilled trades at ����ר�� at okanagan.bc.ca/trades