The program is in partnership with the nonprofit organization Yukon Women in Commerce and Technology (YWIT). Those selected receive tuition fees as well as support with rent and childcare.

The Director General of YWITT, Liz Peredunexplains that helping students with certain expenses allows them to focus on their work. Students can really focus on that […] the benefits that can come from a well-paid job without running into a deficit in family responsibilities or living expenses.

This type of program is not the first to be offered in this area. The head of the Department of Trades and Technology at Yukon University, Jeff Wolosewichexplains that the university has been offering similar courses for a number of years, such as a preliminary apprenticeship as a carpenter and a two-week welding course.

Jeff Wolosewich explains that the purpose of the program is to ensure [l’organisation] of programs where [les personnes] feel safer knowing they can belong.

The organization YWITT will provide support outside of the courses themselves, making this possible a self-help group and another networking groupexplain Jeff Wolosewich.

This program is one of those offered by a national non-profit organization, CWB Welding Foundation, which offers similar programs across the country. The project manager of the organization, Maria Fukeexplains that even if the participants don’t end up working in welding, they can apply the skills they have acquired in related trades such as boilermakers or ironworkers.

The challenge after the course is to keep women in these jobs. More employers and business owners say they are looking for resources to transform their work cultureexplain Liz Peredun.

Applications for the program are open and information sessions are underway while training will begin in May.

With information from Leslie Amminson