Celebrating Women in Construction

Like most of her classmates, Brennan Walton spent her last days of high school celebrating with friends and saying farewell to her teachers. But while many of her friends are thinking about post-secondary plans, Walton is already on her way to becoming a certified cabinet maker.

The recent graduate from Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph was awarded a $1,000 GVCA Women in Trades scholarship in May. The scholarship celebrates outstanding achievement from grade 12 students in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP).

Walton got her start in cabinet making during a grade 9 “Intro to Technology” class. She says her teacher saw her potential and encouraged her to develop her skills.

“I had a really good teacher who gave us time after school to work on our own projects,” she says. “When I started, I didn’t have any woodworking knowledge. He was a very understanding person and worked with me throughout my time in school. From there, I fell in love with the trade.”

Walton’s path to becoming a certified cabinetmaker began in grade 11 with a co-op placement. The company offered her a summer job, which turned into an early morning part-time position throughout her grade 12 year. In her second semester, she was signed on as an apprentice.

After taking time to celebrate and relax, Walton says she will return to the shop to continue her apprenticeship and then a degree program at Conestoga College. While the $1,000 scholarship is appreciated, it’s the recognition that stands out most.

“I really appreciated being recognized. It's nice to have that.” Walton says.

While awards like the GVCA Women in Trades scholarship boost first-year momentum, staying the course can be the bigger challenge. That’s exactly why former Nelco president Harry Vogt and his wife Connie created the SHE Builds Award, a $20,000 bursary fund reserved for women heading into their second year at Conestoga’s skilled-trades programs. The inaugural SHE Builds Awards were presented to Riley Cooper (Carpentry and Renovation Technician) and Olivia Story (Powerline Technician).

Vogt was inspired to start the fund based on his experiences as an apprentice in 1977. At the time, there were only a handful of women working in the trades, and they faced daily discrimination. Vogt says he worked with a female mason apprentice and was shocked by the harassment and discrimination she received.

“I would talk to her almost daily to keep her chin up and coach her along. To be quite honest, I was embarrassed to be a man with what these men were calling this lady on the job site,” he says. “I promised myself that if I were ever in a position financially to help women in construction and give them an opportunity, I would want to do that.”

After selling Nelco, Vogt says he and his wife were able to do just that. They took a portion of the proceeds from the sale to start a fund with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. 

The award serves two goals: to provide financial support for women pursuing a career in the skilled trades and to celebrate the achievements of women in the industry.

“I hope this award being connected to the Grand Valley Construction Association will help these young women find mentors to help them along,” he says. “In the long term, women are critical to the construction industry. They have so much to offer, we have to take advantage of that.” 

written by: Alex Kinsella