b'Breaking Trade Barriers RAINBOW CONNECT MEMBER SPOTLIGHTIt was undoubtedly a gratifying moment for Vaughan, whose first attempt to get into the trade had been rebuffed because of her gender. Today, she is doing everything in her power to make sureother women arent similarly stonewalled. INCLUSIVE BUSINESS Kinetic into a successful, award-winningNot only does she want to run a successful Vaughan built her business with aoperation. In 2020, the shop even beat out and inclusiveautomotive shop, she decidedly inclusive slant. As a result, hermore than two dozen other nominees fromwants to use her success to set an example shop deviates from the status quo in termsacross the country to nab the coveted Shopfor other women interested in pursuing a of other automotive shops out there.of the Year Award by CARS magazine.career in the trades. She actively gives female technicians an opportunity to learn the trade and aims to create an environment where women andABOUT RAINBOW CONNECTmen alike feel comfortable working. When you start getting into theRainbowconnect.ca is a trusted resource trades, the businesses are often not asand community directory for businesses professional as they should be, notesthat are LGBTQ+ owned, operated and Vaughan, explaining, A female mechanicfriendly. By creating a resource for commu-will start at a shop and theres a calendarnity members to support one another and with naked women on the wall, and oftenfind services and businesses that are re-the female technicians are not given thespectful and welcoming, Rainbowconnect.opportunity to grow.cais buildinganetwork across Canada. Vaughans businessone of only twoIt also supports Pride organizations, LGBTQ+ student organizations and female-owned auto shops in the provincenon-profits by providing an incentive registration program that feeds funds of Saskatchewancurrently employsdirectly back toeach communitygroup.a staff of four plus an apprentice. My apprentice is only 30 and shes alwaysQBiz will be partnering with Rainbowconnect.ca to highlight the unique wanted to be a mechanic. [But] she juststory of a Rainbow Connect member in each issue.kept being told Girls dont do that, saysFor more information on the directory and its resources, visitVaughan. Well, why not? If thats whathttps://www.rainbowconnect.ca/she wants to do, and thats what makes her happy, why wouldnt you want to support that dream? Challenging old ways of thinking around women and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the trades is clearly an important part of Vaughans mission. While she didnt push it that actively in the early days of her business, the importance of doing her part has only grown with time. When I first opened, I was slightly hesitant to talk about that portion of my life because were in a more conservative place, says Vaughan. But I want to takeCAPITAL PRIDE VIRTUALthose steps forward and try to help solveSUMMER FESTIVAL 2021 the problem. I think that we have to doFESTIVAL FIERT DANS LA whatever we can, as women in theseCAPITALE [VIRTUEL 2021]positions, to bring more women in.Building her own business has not been without its challenges, but Vaughan#WESTILLDEMAND #ONEXIGEENCOREhas adeptly maneuvered around anyLEARN MORE AT CAPITALPRIDE.CAroadblocks standing in her way to grow 2021|QBiz CANADA |21'