In an effort to get more young women interested in a career in the skilled trades, Saskatchewan Polytechnic hosted the province’s first ever Jill of All Trades program yesterday.

Jill of All Trades is a workshop aimed at giving female students some exposure to the skilled trades, with a hope that they consider them as future career options.

Allison Zerr is the Program Head for the school’s Women in Trades and Technology program and a welder by trade.

“The importance of having a program today is to bring together women in industry as mentors and instructors to showcase to these young females that these women have also been successful in these industries, and to give them that chance to ask questions about the barriers that we still do face in industry.”

The event gave the young women an opportunity to learn hands-on skills and receive mentorship from seasoned women in the field.

Zerr says demand for the program was high, as 130 girls had to be turned away this year.

The girls had the opportunity to learn and perform hands on skills that would be used as an electrician, agricultural technician, and heavy-duty mechanic to name a few.

Brandi McTavish, the Academic Chair for Sask Polytechnic’s School of Transportation and heavy-duty equipment technician by trade, says it was inspirational to see so many girls interested in non-traditional career paths.

“Confidence is what I’ve seen with these girls. They start out, they’re kind of fumbling with their hands, and as they do it, you can just see the confidence in them build, and that is the most rewarding experience,” McTavish stated.