Getting young women interested in a trades career.
That is the idea behind this Thursday’s open house at Bracebridge Muskoka Lakes Secondary School.
Two grade 12 students, twin sisters Ashlynn and Megen Snead have been behind the idea to bring in female middle school pupils and show them some of the trades they might be able to do as a career.
BML Principal Kim Williams was presented the concept from the students and immediately got things in motion.
“The school board has approved it,” she confirms. “All of our Muskoka schools, Huntsville, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge area grade eight girls to come to BML for the day.”
She adds the Snead sisters made a lot of the calls and got things organized quickly. Megen has an apprenticeship to be a chef, while Ashlynn has been accepted at Fleming College for drilling and blasting.
Williams says there will be a guest speaker, a female tradesperson working as an auto mechanic.
“The students will listen to the guest-speaker for half the day and the other half they are going to participate in a workshop,” she says. “They pick the workshop they want to work in but all the presenters are females working in a skilled trade.”
Williams says a lot of times girls don’t pick trades because they simply don’t have exposure to role models.
“They don’t see a female who is a carpenter, … or a plumber, there isn’t as many of them,” she offers. “It doesn’t always occur to them when they look at role models for future occupations.”
BML currently offers courses such as carpentry, construction and green industries along with hospitality courses.
Nearly 200 girls have signed up for the special workshop day.
