October 19, 2022

Solving Canada's Trades Crisis 🎯

October 19, 2022

Clearing a New Path™ and Clearing a New Path Podcast™ are products of Radar Media, located in Dorchester, Ontario on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral peoples who once used this land as their traditional beaver hunting grounds.  As a settler here I’m committed to deepening understanding of Indigenous communities and reframing responsibilities to land and community. I am grateful to Mother Earth for the opportunity for love and connection and to the spirits of the Elders and the Medicine People who still walk the Earth.

OCTOBER 19, 2022

I come to this work as a white woman of privilege; a vulnerable allyship student.I get things wrong often and I am open to, and welcome opportunities to be called in about the content in this newsletter, in order to create safe, brave spaces for all. The purpose is to unite people in rural Canada.I am grateful to walk along this journey in grace, love and empathy together.Simply hit 'reply' to contribute, suggest and

WHERE ARE THE TRADES PEOPLE?

Hello Amazing Humans,Anyone in their rural community looking for trades people?Whether you are a business owner, looking for qualified employees or a home owner looking to hire someone to do some work, many of Canada's smaller communities have few choices in town. As many folks in the skilled trades retire, a hole is being left that is increasingly difficult to fill.Last week, the federal government announced calls for proposals aimed at increasing the amount of women in skilled trades.

Under the Women in Skilled Trades Initiative, the Government is investing up to $43.5 million over four years to support projects that aim to recruit and retain women apprentices in 39 eligible Red Seal trades.

Currently, according to Stats Canada women make up only 5% of the folks in skilled trades (which happens to include hairstyling and esthetics).In this episode, you'll hear that women still struggle to be accepted as equals among their trade peers, as well as their employers.You'll hear why some customers actually seek out women to do the work. There's a few reasons for that, one of them is that some recognize that women work differently.

You'll hear current research into women in the marine industry in Newfoundland and Labrador (Ever heard of 'sonic patriarchy'?), you'll hear from a young woman following in her family's footsteps, her mom actually, onto a lobster boat in Newfoundland, you'll hear from a woman that went into business for herself as an exterminator in rural Manitoba, partially because of how she was treated as a woman at her workplace and you'll hear from an ecological farmer in Ontario who sought out female roofers to do the work on her roof, and who now have formed a group called Summit Sisters and a new documentary series is in the works!

Since this conversation, I discovered a group called KickAss Careers 

"Engage, Educate and Encourage students of all ages to consider the vast opportunities for sustainable careers in skilled trades and technology through apprenticeship, technical programs and the armed forces." Most of the visual representation is women tradespeople, which is encouraging all in of itself!

Clockwise from top left, researcher and historian, Heather Elliott, fifth generation fish harvester Jasmine Paul, organic farmer, Michele Vindum and exterminator Suzy Rayner.

FROM READERS

ow the word 'Freedom' has evolved in our rural communities.

OPEN SUNDAY CIRCLE

I'm continuing to host a standing open Zoom circle on Sundays. Bring the topics you'd like to discuss with other rural folks across Canada. I will record it, but feel free to turn off your video as you wish, I will only be keeping the audio. The key here is RESPECTFUL conversations, with deep listening, care and understanding, holding space for others.

Join Zoom Meeting

Sunday, October 23, 20221:30 p.m. NT1:00 p.m. AT12:00 p.m. ET 11:00 a.m. CT10:00 a.m. MT9:00 a.m. PTIf you'd like to me send you a calendar invitation, send me an email.If you cannot come, feel free to email me - hit reply - or record a voice memo on your smart phone and email it to me, about the issues you want to hear about and that are affecting you were you are. I will add them all to future episodes.

SUPPORTERS

This newsletter and the Clearing a New Path™ podcast are supported by Xplore Business, formerly Xplornet Enterprise Solutions.