Keeley

Meet Keeley

Keeley faced a turning point in her life when she joined the Journeywoman Start (JWS) program in 2011. Prior to WBF, she was a single mom working in retail, making minimum wage. Deep down she knew she was capable of more, but voices of people in her past held her back. The day she applied to the program was the day she decided to fight back. And fight she did! 

Over the last 10 years, Keeley has become a leader, mentor and advocate for women looking to enter male-dominated professions. Once she completed JWS, she moved through an apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Red Seal Welder and B Pressure Welder. When she wanted to further diversify her skills, she looked to the rope access industry. She went on to become one of only 120 Level 3 Rope Access Certified female technicians in the world, amongst tens of thousands of men. “As I progressed through the industry, I noticed none of my instructors or mentors were female. It became my mission to make sure those following behind me have a different experience.” Keeley then partnered with WBF to develop and run rope access course for women, the first of its kind. Keeley’s daughter has decided to follow in her footsteps, making them the only Rope Access Certified mother-daughter team in the world!  

Keeley has achieved significant success in her career and life since she took the JWS program in 2011. In 2020, Keeley was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women and has been nominated again this year. “The struggle to create a better future for myself and my kids has given me the strength, confidence, and courage to speak up, guide, and mentor others.”