Don't tell Cathy Minty plumbing is a man's job. Two years ago, the B.C.-based mother of five ran a home daycare and never used a drill. But after becoming a single mom and her family's sole breadwinner, she knew she needed a new career—and fast. 

“I needed to go back to school, but it was too expensive and I wouldn't have time to work or support my family,” remembers Minty, 34. “That's when I remembered my father's words, that someone always needs a plumber.”

She decided to enter the Piping Opportunities for Women program offered by the Piping Industry Association Board through the Women in Trades Training initiative. 

The program paid for Cathy's tuition and work boots, and helped with childcare and transportation costs. 

Women in Trades Training connects unemployed or low-skilled women to funded training opportunities across British Columbia. It is overseen by the Industry Training Authority, the provincial crown agency responsible for managing B.C.'s trades training and apprenticeship system, and funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.

After completing the piping program and her first year of technical training, Minty was hired for a large project with the construction company Black & McDonald. “When we hired Cathy, she was confident, prepared and able to hit the ground running—exactly what we needed,” says Stacey Kent, project administrator.

Now a first year plumber apprentice, Minty hopes to one day become Red Seal certified. “When I come home covered in dirt and dust, I'm brimming with confidence,” she says. “I can't wait to tell my kids what I did at work that day.

“One of my daughters recently told me she might become a plumber when she grows up—what mom wouldn't be proud of that?” 

Like Minty,  Nicole Martini is an ordinary 24-year-old: she spends weekends with friends, enjoys the outdoors and recently moved into her own house. However, there is nothing ordinary about her career path.

Martini is a third-year plumber apprentice and is among a growing number of women embracing non-traditional careers in the skilled trades.

After working part-time in retail for two years, she enrolled in a skilled trades exploration program offered at Okanagan College through the Women in Trades Training (WITT) initiative. 

“I loved what I was learning and knew it was the perfect career for me,” she says.

According to Erin Johnston, manager of supply initiatives with ITA, many women are discovering that a career in the trades offers increased job satisfaction, independence and higher pay. Johnston also notes more employers are sponsoring women apprentices in anticipation of expected labour shortages. 

“As more tradespeople retire, some industries are already struggling with a shortage of skilled workers,” she says. “Our training programs provide women with the skills and training they need to fill these jobs.” 

The programs remove barriers that keep women out of the trades by providing tuition, access to childcare and subsidies for transportation or tools. 

Approximately 1,500 women have participated in Women in Trades Training programs since the initiative first started in 2008. Currently there are more than 3,500 registered women apprentices in B.C., representing 10 per cent of all registered apprentices in the province. 

Martini is now employed at a Kelowna-based plumbing company. She plans to become Red Seal certified and hopes more women consider a career in the trades. 

Her one piece of advice for other women is this: “You can do it!”

– newscanada.com