WBF celebrates Regina’s first Journey to Trades graduation

Published On

August 23, 2024

Women Building Futures (WBF) marked an important milestone with the graduation of the first Journey to Trades program in Regina, Saskatchewan on August 15 at Lotus Learning Solutions.

We caught up with Ann and Letecia, 2 of the 18 graduates, who share their stories of passion and determination.

For the longest time, both Ann and Letecia were interested in the skilled trades but needed the right support to get started—and they found that with Women Building Futures.

“I was always interested in the trades just in general, but I never really felt like I had the right opportunity to enter the trades,” says Letecia. Before the Journey to Trades program, she was a professional cleaner. “I used to apply for jobs in just general labour, things like that, and nobody ever called me, so I would go to places, and still I would be told ‘You have no experience. You’ve been doing cleaning and that’s not relevant experience.’”

Ann completed her electrical electronics engineering degree in Nigeria but never had the chance to build a career for herself in the field. “Because when it comes to construction, there’s this mindset that it is just a man’s [work],” she says.

Having moved to Canada in December 2023 with the goal of building a better life, she found the opportunity with Women Building Futures to pursue her dreams of working in the skilled trades. “When I heard of the program, I was like, ‘This is me.’ I’ve always wanted to practice and have more skills and experience in what I’ve studied,” says Ann.

Circle of support

The 12-week introductory construction trades program prepares students with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to start a career in the construction trades. The program offers a chance to experience different construction trades. It also offers friendship and support.

“When we first started, they told us that by the end of the program, you are all going to be like sisters. I’m looking around and think I’ve never been able to form proper bonds with women in my life, so I highly doubt it. But okay, I’ll go along. And now, literally, I really feel like the relationships are great,” says Letecia.

“This was the best experience I have had since moving to Canada. I have met lovely ladies who are all ready to take their lives to the next level. And our instructors were always there for us and encouraged us along the way,” adds Ann.

Both Ann and Letecia, along with the rest of the graduates, are ready to take the next step and start their careers in the trades.

“There is no greater time to explore life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades than now. The Government of Saskatchewan has taken great strides to support training programs such as this to help meet the critical need for more skilled tradespeople, and we are proud to partner in supporting this mission,” says Carol Moen, president and CEO of Women Building Futures.

“We are excited for all our graduates of to join the Saskatchewan workforce and support the province’s growing economy.”

Shared impact

Through values-aligned partners in industry and government, Women Building Futures can surround women and gender-diverse people with the support they need to change their lives.

“Our partnership with BHP brought us to Saskatchewan in 2023. Building from this partnership, we are proud to lead change with values-aligned partners committed to paving the way for women to pursue well-paying careers in the skilled trades – careers that uplift the lives of women and their children,” says Moen.

“Thank you to the Government of Saskatchewan and our industry partners for this program, Enbridge, TC Energy and Pembina, who value and work hard to make inclusive workplaces, the type of workplaces women will ultimately want to stay in.”

To stay updated on the latest program news in Saskatchewan, visit https://womenbuildingfutures.ca/regions-we-serve/saskatchewan/ or sign up for our newsletter and emails.

Story by Jaida Hiebert, Communications Intern