Judine
Judine wanted to get into the trades after relocating from Jamaica. Now, the hard work has paid off.
“The feeling of making a living in the skilled trades is indescribable.”
Meet Judine
When Judine moved to Canada from Jamaica, she hoped for a smooth transition into the skilled trades. Instead, she spent 4 years struggling to break into the industry, often working 2 jobs to make ends meet.
“It wasn’t easy. I mainly worked in a warehouse, and the wages were not great. I applied for several labourer roles on construction sites, but I never got anywhere,” she says.
In the hopes of meeting the wage threshold to sponsor her mother’s visa, Judine relocated to Alberta to find more job opportunities.
It was then a friend told her about Women Building Futures and the Journeywoman Start (now Journey to Trades) program, an introductory construction trades program that prepares women to start their careers in the skilled trade.
At first, Judine found the prospect of returning to school “really daunting.” She had been out of school for 13 years. Even though she was worried, the “tremendous support” she received throughout the course helped her succeed.
“I’ve never been good at maths. One of the instructors stayed behind with me and ran maths revision sessions so I could get up to speed. I am immensely grateful for that,” she says.
“Outside of the course, I got emails from WBF every week. If I needed emotional support, it was provided. If I needed financial support, it was provided. Even if I needed to adjust my resume and didn’t know the right terms, that support was there,” she adds.
Once Judine graduated in 2022, she began searching for work. WBF’s alumni support team recommended a role pipefitting, where she has been ever since. Now, the mom-of-2 works as a steamfitter-pipefitter apprentice.
“Since joining the program, I’ve been able to afford a stable life,” she says.
“I’ve been able to afford all the luxuries for my children that I didn’t have for myself. My eldest daughter, who is 8, is a shopaholic!
“What I used to make in 2 weeks, I now make in 1. It makes life so much easier,” she adds.
