March 8, 2023 (Quesnel, BC) – Later this month, Quesnel youth will have the opportunity to participate in two Spring Break Trades camps, developed to introduce the next generation of workers to potential career paths. Led by Red Seal electrician, Lisa Scott, the free-of-charge Young Women in Trades and Indigenous Youth in Trades camps are open to participants aged 10-13.
Scott, who brings 21 years of professional experience to the camps, built a rewarding and financially stable career and life not only for herself, but her son as well. Following up on an opportunity to do Confined Space Watch, Scott engaged with other tradespersons who were exchanging information about the trades industry, and the opportunities within it.
“During the last week of a mill shutdown I was working on, I met an older woman welder,” said Scott. “She also told me about the trades, opportunities and money available in industry. That’s when I thought, ‘If this lady could do it, so could I.’ Being a single mom at a young age, I thought this could be a great career path that I wanted to pursue and create a better life for my son and I.”
Scott immediately made an appointment at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to ask about the trades and get more information. Following a few conversations with the college and a friend, she decided to pick electrical.
In the two decades since, Scott has obtained her Red Seal and committed her time to promoting and supporting the trades through a number of organizations and committees. Her current commitments include being a Regional Representative with the BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT) and sitting on CUPE’s BC Skilled Trades Committee, she is also a Director at Large with the BC Tradeswomen Society and serving as a Board Member with the CNC.
Recognizing that young women and Indigenous communities typically don’t encounter opportunities to receive trades-related career exposure, Scott developed this Spring’s Young Women in Trades and Indigenous Youth in Trades camps, following successful trade summer camps in 2022.
“Last year, I went into the CFBC office and saw all the amazing work they were doing with youth, and I immediately wanted to bring that work back to Quesnel. I was working as a maintenance electrician at the school district in Quesnel, so applying what I was doing in the trades to a shop class setting made sense.”
Each camp day begins with morning stretches and round table discussions in a classroom setting before heading to the workshop. Snack breaks and a midday lunch break up the day, before participants return to the shop for the afternoon to work on a variety of projects.
“It’s really great to see the pride the students show when building their projects,” added Scott. “It’s fun to watch them develop these skills and confidence and watch what they have completed. Sometimes, it’s hard to pull them away from the projects that they are working on as they are so engaged when it’s time to break for lunch.”
For further information and the camp application package, please contact Lisa Scott at 250.991.2897 or by email at lisa@constructionfoundation.ca.
Located on the traditional territories of Lhatako Dene First Nation, March’s Young Women in Trades and Indigenous Youth in Trades Spring camps are open to youth aged 10-13 and are supported by the Construction Foundation of BC, Skilled Trades BC, West Fraser Mills, BC Centre for Women in the Trades, BC Tradeswomen Society, College of New Caledonia, Dakelh Education and Employment Society, Service Electric and Nedco through contributions, donations and volunteer participation.
For more information on the work being done by the Construction Foundation of BC and to donate, please visit www.constructionfoundation.ca.
