Hamilton, October 9, 2024 – For the third consecutive year, the West End Home Builders’ Association (WE HBA) partnered with Mohawk College and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) to host the WE BUILD Showcase. Held at Mohawk College’s Stoney Creek Campus for Skilled Trades, this event provided 100 young women in Grades 7 and 8 with hands-on introductions to career paths in residential construction, skilled trades, and STEM fields.
The full-day event featured interactive workshops, tours of the Mohawk’s Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship Campus, and sessions designed to engage these future leaders. Students explored various trades and specialties while competing in friendly challenges and participating in activities hosted by WE HBA members and community partners.
We’re proud to provide young women with hands-on experience and insight into the rewarding career opportunities in residential construction and skilled trades. Thanks to our community partners and WE HBA members, this showcase continues to encourage the next generation to explore these essential career pathways.
The WEBUILD Showcase introduces young women to careers in residential construction while highlighting academic pathways to get started. The event featured booths from our valued members in a wide range of trades and industries, including:
- Cachet Homes
- Dynamic Heating and Cooling
- Guest Plumbing & HVAC
- Heartwood Renovations
- Milwaukee
- Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)
- Turkstra Lumber
- WalterFedy
- YWCA Hamilton
Students engaged directly with industry professionals, exploring the possibilities of working in these fields through interactive activities and competitions. The event’s success was made possible by the dedication of the WE HBA Women in Industry (WIN) Committee and the support of Mohawk College and OYAP.
About the WE HBA Women in Industry (WIN) Committee: Chair: Sandra Husidic, Co-Chair: Katelyn Gillis
Founded in 2018, the WE HBA’s WIN Committee is the first Women’s Group within a Home Builders’ Association in Canada. Comprised of passionate women, the committee is dedicated to supporting, educating, and empowering women in construction, development, trades, and STEM fields. Through networking events, educational sessions, and monthly meetings, the committee fosters connections that advance gender diversity within these industries.
Thank you to our speakers,
- Alicia Sljivic, General Manager, Heartwood Renovations
- Samara Young, Associate Dean, Building Systems and Sustainability, Mohawk College
- Sandra Husidic, Women in Industry (WIN) Committee Chair
- Katelyn Gillis, Women in Industry (WIN) Committee Co-Chair
- Lastly, a special thanks to Starward Homes, the T-shirt sponsor for this event.