Centennial College hosted a Jill of All Trades event on October 24 to help inspire young women in high school to pursue careers in the skilled trades and technologies.
The full-day event took place at Centennial's Ashtonbee campus in Scarborough, welcoming more than 100 students from school boards across the GTA. Participants rotated through workshops that gave them a chance to roll up their sleeves and try their hand at different skilled trades.
"Jill of All Trades is an important opportunity to inspire young women about the possibility of trades as a career path they can take," said Michelle Solomon, Outreach Coordinator, Women in Non-Traditional Careers, Centennial College. "Trying out the skilled trades excites and empowers students to explore the options that are available in industries like construction and transportation."
The College's auto body workshop included activities such as using a plasma cutter to cut a design into a piece of sheet metal. The heavy-duty equipment workshop included activities like taking off and installing one of the over four feet tall wheels on a Caterpillar Loader.
"Through first-hand experience, students learn just how rewarding the skilled trades can be," said Alan McClelland, Dean, School of Transportation, Centennial College. "Centennial College operates one of the largest transportation technology schools in Canada, so it's a natural site for a skilled-trades orientation like Jill of All Trades."
Students and apprentices are educated on name-brand technology in world-class labs at Centennial's School of Transportation, home to more than $100-million worth of aircraft, vehicles and equipment. Innovative modified apprenticeship programs (MAPs) established with industry partners Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Canadian Tire and Mack/Volvo Trucks produce skilled, job-ready apprentices.
This is Centennial's second year hosting Jill of All Trades, which was founded by Conestoga College and has been running since 2014.