Jessica
Jessica was destined for a career in the trades but needed support to overcome the barriers she faced as a single mom with 3 young kids. Now she works as a second-year apprentice welder.
Meet Jessica
You could say that welding is in Jessica’s blood.
Her family moved from Ontario to Alberta to join a welding boom when she was 10 years old. Her brother and uncle are welders.
Despite coming from a family of welders, Jessica faced challenges that prevented her from taking the leap as a single parent.
“Before I joined the program, I worked in day-care and pre-school,” she says. “I have 3 children. It was easy to manage with being a mom.
“I always wanted to work in the trades, but I just didn’t have the support with my children. I was waiting for them to get older.”
However, when Covid struck, Jessica lost her job and started to look for alternatives.
She applied to the Journeywoman Start program (now Journey to Trades), WBF’s introductory construction trades program that prepares students to start their careers in the industry.
“I had known about Women Building Futures for a long time, but I just never thought to try it. Then Covid happened, and I got laid off – and everybody else got laid off – so I applied and was accepted,” she says.
Training under Covid
Jessica says that entering the WBF classroom amid the pandemic made for “a really weird time.”
“We had to wear a mask, and we had to tape them so that your glasses didn’t fog up. I think we had a smaller class size because of Covid.”
But even in those circumstances, Jessica thrived.
“I loved the teachers. They were really welcoming and supportive and they communicated really well.
“In my class, I wrote an essay, and I won the merit award. I was really proud,” she adds.
Now, Jessica works as a second-year apprentice welder.
Her time at WBF hasn’t just provided new employment for Jessica – it has also boosted her confidence.
“Since the course, I think I’m stronger physically. I’m not as quiet. I will stand up for myself more,” she says.
“With welding, you’re going to move to different sites, and you’re changing constantly. I’m less nervous and less shy about walking into a new place. You just go there, and you work.”
