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While most grade nine students are thinking about their next semester’s courses, Payton Staples is looking further into her future. The Huron Heights Secondary School student is considering all her post-graduation options, including a career in a skilled trade. Payton learned about the opportunities in the skilled trades thanks to the Jill of All Trades program.
Jill of All Trades was launched in 2014 by the Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning to introduce young women in grades nine through 12 to the possibilities of a career in the skilled trades. The program includes hands-on activities and workshops, mentorship, and talks on career opportunities in the skilled trades.
Payton learned about the program thanks to her mother, Karla McConnell. She says Payton had always shown an interest in the trades, and had taken the Intro to Tech course during her grade nine year.
“It’s normal for kids at her age to have no idea what they really want to do after school. I believe in touching and feeling, and I’m always trying to find different opportunities for her to put her hands on things to figure out what she wants to do,” says Karla.
One of the challenges for the industry looking to bring more young women into the skilled trades is the lack of visible representation. Payton says she was one of only three girls in the Intro to Tech course she took last year.
“I thought it was kind of odd that there are so few girls in the class. But after I went to the Jill of All Trades event, I saw that these aren’t ‘men’s jobs’—anybody can do it. So I've signed up for auto shop next year as one of my classes,” Payton says.
During her research, Karla learned about the Jill of All Trades program and approached Payton’s guidance counsellor about the opportunity. The timing was perfect, as the Jill of All Trades event was only a few weeks away.
“Payton was only in grade nine, but the logic of her attending this year goes back to touch and feel. She had already selected her grade ten courses, and if she waited until next year, she would have already picked her grade 11 courses. That starts streamlining her into what she wants to do post-secondary,” Karla says.
For Payton, the Jill of All Trades event was a chance to learn about different trades and their opportunities. The plumbing workshop was one of her favourites.
“In the plumbing session, we made a water hose and used a soldering iron to fit pipes together. It's one of the more interesting things that I learned about,” Payton says.
Karla says Payton was initially hesitant, but she didn’t have to wait till the end of the day to hear how things went.
“When I messaged her at lunchtime, I got back in capital letters, ‘Oh my gosh, it's so fun. This is so amazing!’,” Karla says.
As Payton gets ready to start grade ten in the fall, she plans to sign up for the next Jill of All Trades event. She won’t be going alone, either.
“I've recommended it to half of my class, and I've told all my friends that if they don't go next year, they’re missing out on so many things. I wrote an article for my English class, and told my English teacher that if somebody ever asks about it, show them that because it has all the information someone would need,” Payton says.
Jill of All Trades has over 120 events across Canada and the U.S., with more expansions planned for the future. Karla says the program is helping to correct misconceptions about the skills trades and the opportunities available for women.
“I still think there's the stigma that going into the trades is a sort of backup plan. But going into trades and doing apprenticeships are highly valuable assets going forward,” Karla says. There's also going to be a great need for trades, and there's no reason why women can't get into these. Jill of All Trades goes a long way to opening girls’ eyes to what’s possible.”