In 25 years, nearly 3,000 women have opened their lives to new careers and new possibilities
By Lisa Kopochinski
Women Building Futures (WBF) has been helping women for more than 25 years. Formed in Edmonton in 1998 by a small group of social workers, WBF is a nonprofit organization that has helped many women and children rise out of poverty.
WBF’s work in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario connects women with an empowered future. In 25 years, nearly 3,000 women have graduated from its programs to open their lives to new careers and new possibilities.
“While our core objective remains rooted in this mission, we have grown to offer additional employment training programs in the construction trades, driving and related industries, as well as support services to remove barriers for unemployed and underemployed women,” said Carol Moen, WBF president and CEO.
“In Saskatchewan, we have 17 Employers of Choice, and we look forward to seeing these numbers grow as we expand in the region.”
– Carol Moen, Women Building Futures
“We work with employers to lead positive change through our Employers of Choice program and Work Proud Inclusivity Training. Our Employers of Choice undergo a certification process and are committed to the change needed to see under-represented
individuals in their workplaces. We also offer Work Proud Inclusivity Training workshops to provide organizations with the insight and tools to create more engaged, safe and inclusive workplaces.”
Expanding into Saskatchewan
In 2023, WBF expanded into Saskatchewan through its partnership with global resource company BHP and is offering its BHP Trades Readiness program and providing new
opportunities for women in the province.
With eight team members in Saskatchewan, WBF is actively nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, connecting with industry partners, Indigenous communities, government and private sector partners.
To date, three classes of BHP Trades Readiness were offered in 2023. A total of 27 women graduated from the program last year.
The next two BHP Trades Readiness classes started in March and April. This nine-week introductory program prepares women with hands-on skills training and safety certificates to start a successful career in the mining industry.
In partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan and its industry partners Pembina, Enbridge Inc. and TC Energy, WBF ran its first Journey to Trades program in Regina in spring. Journey to Trades is an introductory trades program where students become equipped with basic hands-on skills, safety certification and experience to begin a construction trades career.
“As we grow in the region, we encourage women to sign up for the Saskatchewan construction trades mailing list to learn more about our upcoming programs in the province,” said Moen. “We aim to connect with students wherever they are and establish a network of employers that our students can trust,” she said. “We ensure our students understand the community resources available to support their journey all throughout.”
Additionally, WBF is continuing its expansion work in Saskatchewan and Ontario through the support and funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy. The grant will allow the organization to raise awareness of opportunities for women in resilient skilled trades careers, deliver readiness programs to help women thrive in their chosen careers, connect women apprentices to WBF graduates and build more inclusive work environments for women by supporting employers in their workforce inclusion initiatives.
“Our work allows us to foster connections that support women on their path to economic security.”
– Carol Moen, Women Building Futures
What’s next?
As WBF grows in Saskatchewan, the aim is to focus on building partnerships with governments, industry, post-secondary institutions, community organizations and Indigenous communities and organizations.
“We are always on the lookout to build more sustainable and strategic partnerships,” said Moen. “More than that, we provide readiness programs to help women thrive in our training programs and chosen careers and through their careers in the trades. Employers want this and we are seeing more that want to close the gender gap through our workforce inclusion initiatives. In Saskatchewan, we have 17 Employers of Choice, and we look forward to seeing these numbers grow as we expand in the region.”
Moen adds that the long-term strategic vision is to create one million connections that elevate women’s potential by 2035.
“We are working hard to make those connections to improve the lives of the women we serve. Our work allows us to foster connections that support women on their path to economic security.”
Photos: Women Building Futures