b'SPECIAL FEATURE: INDUSTRY PROMOTIONCEMENTING SMILESGrades 5 and 6 female students have fun trying a construction trade at Manitoba Women in Constructions Unlocking the Toolkit eventUnlocking the Toolkit was back on Aprilcreating their own standard concreteExecutive Director, WAGE-MB, and MWC 18, and better than ever, as more thanmixture and filling a casting mold. ToChair Kayla Gervais were also on hand 90 girls from Grades 5 and 6 descendedlearn a few of the facets of solderingto share a few remarks and recognize on WCAs Construction Education Centreand plumbing, attendees soldered athe events female trailblazers.to try their hands at a variety of trades.small piece of precut pipe to a fittingAccording to Heidi Dirks, a teacher at Hosted by MWC, WCA and Womenon a secure cart, as well as connectedcole Golden Gate Middle School, the and Gender Equity Manitoba (WAGE- two pieces of PEX into a loop usinghighlight was seeing her students meet MB), the one-day event gave studentscouplings and a crimping tool to securenew role models: Girls getting to see the opportunity to explore careers inthe joint. women in construction jobspeople construction trades and meet womenMy students were so engaged andthat they can aspire to be like.working in the industry.learned a lot from the professionals at The event featured nine hands-oneach station, explained Tia Friesen,For industry representatives, sharing activities facilitated by tradeswomen ina teacher at Darwin School. Oneknowledge and experiences with these areas including welding, plumbing andhighlight was seeing my students try theGrade 5 and 6 girls was impactful.pipefitting, masonry, heavy equipmentexcavator. They were focused on a task[The best part of the event was] operating, carpentry, concrete and more. and could immediately see results. showcasing to young women that a career in construction is attainable and At the masonry station, female bricklayerTabitha Swain brought a group rewarding, said Ramir Diaz from the Nina Widmer was teaching the differentof girls from St. James-Assiniboia Manitoba Construction Sector Council.elements of bricklaying, including howSchool Division. The engagement from students to butter a brick, throw mortar and layThe best part of the day was seeing mywas the highlight for Tina Larson a brick to the line. Over the course ofgirls trying out a trade and then talkingfrom Lafarge Canada, and Widmer the day, students created a brick wall.about how fun it was. I loved that theyappreciated the hands-on experience A few feet over at the heavy equipmentwere exposed to careers they may neverthe girls get with all the different tools of station, students were operating ahave thought of before, said Swain. the trade!small mechanical digger replica and attempting to pick up and drop gravelBefore the girls got their hands dirty,A special thanks to the sponsors, with its bucket. At the concrete station,103.1 Virgin Radio morning show hostsupporters and the many volunteers students were provided a brief overviewChrissy Troy kicked things off andwho helped make the event aon how concrete is made beforeenergized attendees. Jamie Carnegie,huge success. UNLOCKING THE TOOLKIT SPONSORS26 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca'