Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy: Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative

The Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative focuses on funding projects that recruit, retain, and help women apprentices succeed in the 39 eligible Red Seals trades found predominately in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

The Initiative supports projects that:

• create partnerships with women’s groups, community colleges, unions or employers to recruit women;
• organize women-led events as an outreach tool to help attract women to the skilled trades;
• offer mentorship by female role models, women-in-the-skilled-trades networks, and opportunities to share success stories; and
• create a welcoming space where women can feel comfortable and safe in the training and work sites.

The Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative falls under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, which aims to encourage Canadians to explore, prepare for, and succeed in apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades.

The following projects funded under the 2022 Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative call for proposals were announced on March 7, 2024:

Organization: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Project title: Sisters in the Skilled Trades
Description: Project will support women apprentices enrolled in technical training through wraparound supports such as dependent care, travel supports, and supports for technical training expenses.
Funding amount: $2,330,619
Region: Manitoba (Winnipeg)
Ontario (Woodbridge)
Nova Scotia (Lower Sackville)
New Brunswick (Hanwell)
Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown)
British Columbia (Delta)
Saskatchewan (Saskatoon)
Quebec (Anjou)
Newfoundland and Labrador (Paradise)
Alberta (Edmonton)
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Yukon

Organization: Fanshawe College of Applied Arts and Technology
Project title: ConnectHER: Mentorship Program for Women in the Trades
Description: Project will recruit, retain and support women in at least five Red Seal trades (such as construction electrician, carpenter, welder, plumber, and heavy equipment operator) through the development of a female-led mentorship program.
Funding amount: $2,371,946
Region: Ontario (London)
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nunavut

Organization: Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium of Canada
Project title: Women in Advanced Manufacturing Skilled Trades
Description: Project will support women apprentices with a strategic and targeted approach to help increase the Red Seal program retention and completion rates.
Funding amount: $2,186,076
Region: Ontario (Owen Sound)
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Yukon

Organization: Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
Project title: A National Mentorship Program for Women Apprentices in 39 Red Seal Trades
Description: Project will create a national mentorship program and provide wraparound services to recruit, retain and help 160 women in 39 Red Seal trades across Canada.
Funding amount: $1,112,325
Region: Ontario (Ottawa)
Alberta
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nunavut
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Organization: Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society
Project title: Immigrant Women Trades Apprenticeship Project
Description: Project will support 120 newcomer women apprentices from equity-deserving groups in securing sustainable, long-term employment in British Columbia’s carpentry, construction, craft working, construction electrical, plumbing and welding trades.
Funding amount: $1,538,608
Region: British Columbia (Surrey)

Organization: The Western Joint Electrical Training Society
Project title: WIRED (Women’s Interconnection and Retention in the Electrical Disciplines)
Description: Project will help recruit and retain women apprentices in the electrical trade through training for new apprentices and wraparound supports.
Funding amount: $2,615,777
Region: British Columbia (Kamloops)

Organization: Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission
Project title: Building Women Up - SK
Description: Project will develop a marketing campaign as an outreach tool to help attract women in the trades, to offer them work opportunities and to create a welcoming space where they can feel comfortable and safe on work sites. 
Funding amount: $874,855
Region: Saskatchewan (Regina)

Organization: First Peoples Development Inc.
Project title: Supporting Progressive Success for Women in Trades
Description: Project will provide mentorship, networking and other key supports for women apprentices pursuing a career in a Red Seal trade
Funding amount: $2,354,009
Region: Manitoba (Winnipeg)

Organization: Skills for Change of Metro Toronto
Project title: Inclusive Pathways to Apprenticeship for Immigrant and Racialized Women
Description: Project will support racialized and immigrant women in Ontario in Red Seal trades through leadership training, mentorship opportunities, networking events and mental health supports.
Funding amount: $2,467,732
Region: Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Quebec

10.  Organization: Temiskaming Native Women’s Support Group   
Project title: Addressing Barriers and Enhancing the Recruitment and Retention of Indigenous Women in Red Seal Trades
Description: Project will support the recruitment and retention of 200 Indigenous women apprentices in Red Seal trades.
Funding amount: $2,604,211
Region: Ontario (Kirkland Lake)

Organization: Syndicat québécois de la construction (SQC)
Project title: Programme de recrutement et de maintien des apprenties du SQC
Description: Project will partner with recruiting firms to recruit, retain and help women apprentices in Quebec succeed in the Red Seal trades.
Funding amount: $2,582,097
Region: Quebec (Montréal)

Organization: Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD)
Project title: L’Initiative de la CSD pour les femmes des métiers spécialisés
Description: Project will increase access to 20 Red Seal trades in Quebec for 400 women apprentices by supporting their learning and success, facilitating the delivery of information workshops across schools, and facilitating mentoring collaborations.
Funding amount: $941,903
Region: Quebec (Québec)

Organization: MAP Strategic Workforce Services Inc.
Project title: New Boots - Building Retention for Tradeswomen of New Brunswick
Description: Project will offer long-term sustainable solutions to the retention barriers faced by tradeswomen and their employers and unions in New Brunswick.
Funding amount: $857,176
Region: New Brunswick (Saint John)

Organization: Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Project title: Advancing Women in Apprenticeship
Description: Project will launch women-led events and engage employers in creating safe and respectful work environments to help recruit, retain, support and advance women apprentices within Nova Scotia.
Funding amount: $2,578,162
Region: Nova Scotia (Halifax)

Organization: Flat Bay Band Inc.
Project title: K’Taqmkuk Women in Trades Initiative
Description: Project will raise awareness, create opportunities, mentor, and assist Indigenous women on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador in pursuing Red Seal trades.
Funding amount: $1,521,365
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador (Flat Bay)