She Wears Work Boots – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Angela Coldwell is an award winning chemistry and physics teacher. She founded Honour The Work as a result of conversations with industry members who shared how K-12 students and adults generally aren't aware of how rewarding and diverse, skilled trades and AEC careers can be. Combining a love of hands-on learning, educational research, and projected workforce needs, the idea of grades 1-6 STEAMS Kits was born.

Honour The Work serves to spark interest in young learners through books and building activities; connect youth and adults to useful resources through their website; and tell the stories of people in the industry via social media.

Find more about Honour The Work and Angela Coldwell here:

https://honourthework.ca/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/honor-the-work/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.instagram.com/honourtheworkca/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-coldwell-aba836124/

Based in South-Western Ontario, Build a Dream is an organization that delivers specialized programs to encourage and empower women and girls to explore careers where women are under-represented, while also working to create a gender-balanced workforce and change global perspectives on women's contribution to society.

McKenna Goodwin is a Red Seal Endorsed General Carpenter. She currently works for Build a Dream as a Career Coach, working directly with tradeswomen and industry partners to improve the recruitment, retention and support of tradeswomen.

Pinky Sabhnani is a dedicated Project Manager and the Employment Programs Lead. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration, she thrives on understanding human behaviour and optimizing processes.

Find more about Build a Dream, McKenna and Pinky here:

https://www.webuildadream.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/webuildadream/

https://www.instagram.com/webuildadream/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-goodwin-rse-443093248/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinkysabhnani/

Just over a year ago, Jade Schaal was a teacher, specifically an ABA paraprofessional working with students on the autism spectrum.
A gut instinct told her that the trades needed to be her next adventure and she took a leap of faith. Today, she is a sheet metal apprentice working in an HVAC fabrication shop and attending school through the union 2 nights a week.
It's been just over a year since she stepped foot into Airside Sheet Metal and she couldn't be happier with the skills and confidence she's gained. Endlessly thankful for support from her workplace, co-workers, teachers, union, family and friends, Jade wants to share her story and encourage others to try something new.
In this episode we talk about the joy of learning new things, the confidence that come from building competence and the importance of encouraging others by sharing your story.

Find more of Jade and her work here:
https://www.instagram.com/semicharmlife/

Adrienne Clarke joined Aecon in 2006 and has worked in many areas including running the utility locate team, the change-management department, and project management of the training and innovation centre.
Today, in the position of General Manager she is responsible for Aecon Utilities Training and Innovation Centre, Aecon Golden Mile Joint Venture, and A3F which is a Joint Venture with the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Aamjiwnaang First Nation.
In this episode we talk about the difference between construction in the office and the field, being engaged by new challenges and the joy of learning, and innovations in DEI that have real impacts for business and the communities its serves.

Find more of Adrienne and her work here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-clarke-31660880/
https://www.aecon.com/press-room/news/2022/09/16/aecon-women-in-trades-program-helping-women-trade-up-and-launch-rewarding-careers-in-construction
https://www.aecon.com/join-our-team/diversity-programs/aecon-golden-mile

Victoria Monardo has been working in construction for 10 years. She is currently a full-time machine operator for a sewer and water crew with Hebster Construction.
Over the years she has developed a wide variety of skills within general construction especially in landscaping. In her spare time, she runs her own landscape construction business, building and installing everything from interlock and retaining walls to grass and garden beds.
In this episode, we talk about the prejudice that still exists around female operators, the importance of persistence to overcome hard things, and the joy and satisfaction of doing what you love.

Find more of Victoria and her work here:
https://www.instagram.com/victoriamonardo/
https://www.instagram.com/digginitlandscape/

Jess Deyong co-founded dollHOUSE design + build in April 2020 at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. Over the next three years, Jess has guided the business through approximately 75 renovations to Century Homes in Hamilton, Ontario. From kitchens to bathrooms and basements to attics, Jess aims to juxtapose old and new to create vibrant, functional and stylish living spaces that work for each and every client. As part of the core of dollHOUSE's values, Jess and the crew strive to empower and build up women in the trades industry. 
Jess is the founder of Facebook groups "So, You're Thinking about Moving to Hamilton!" and the "HamOnt Home Improvement Community" and is extremely passionate about restoring Hamilton century homes, balancing charm and character with modern updates. She has been interviewed by the CBC and led design workshops focusing on kitchens, bathrooms and renovations for investors. She and the team are currently developing a series of DIY Workshops for women and members of the LGBTQ community to learn the basics of home renovations in a safe, judgement free space.

Find more of dollHouse and Jess's and her work here:
https://www.instagram.com/dollhouse_collective/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/dollhousehamont
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-deyong-8b5093a/

In a past life, Kelly McNamara worked as a Kinesiologist, doing functional assessments and ergonomic consulting for industry. Today she is an Apprentice Carpenter with Freestone Construction in Fernie, British Columbia.
Pursuing carpentry full-time has altered her trajectory in such a positive way that, as she says: "I can't NOT share this journey." As a member of British Columbia Center for Women in the Trades initiatives and via social media, she uses her platform to help break down the concept of traditional gender roles that still linger within the trades. 
In this episode we talk about following your joy, creating and finding brave spaces and the importance of advocacy via organizations and social media to normalize women in trades.

Find more of Kelly and her work here:
https://www.instagram.com/macs.edge/
https://bccwitt.ca/

Carys Cao has been on a number of career paths ranging from teaching to insurance and even some work in corrections. Today she is a Journeyperson Handyman with LiUNA 183.
She currently works new homes in their final stages, just before closing, cleaning up any minor deficiencies before the new homeowner moves in. She also services the warranty program which gives her a unique opportunity to work around people many of whom are women and kids who may never have seen a trades-woman before.
Carys is on a personal mission to improve construction work culture and hopes to increase female visibility and membership as a LiUNA Ambassador. She is passionate about mental health in the trades. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and ADHD, she is working to make all workplaces safer for neurodivergent humans.
In this episode we talk about the benefits of being a female identifying handyman, the important support of her union, and the statistics that prove that things ARE getting better!

Find more of Carys and her work here:
https://www.instagram.com/carys_like_paris/
https://liunalocal183.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/thebpdbunch/
BPD Bunch: Season 2, Ep 3 BPD & Working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8xAuYL95s

Sparky, Boots & Smoko's Live Panel is a collaboration of Lia Lamela, Alexis Armstrong and our own Lindsay Reynolds. These three ladies have come together as fellow podcasters and passionate advocates of story-telling and open conversation about women and other under-represented goups in in STEM, Trades and the Construction Industry.

This episode is a recording of their first round-table conversation.

The next one will be LIVE!!

Find more of Sparky, Boots & Smoko here: Sparkly Life: https://open.spotify.com/show/4PKgW3PEpWHcIpDbxJKr5c The Smoko Podcast: https://www.smokopodcast.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/sparkylifeoflia/ https://www.instagram.com/thesmokopodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/peggyworkwear/ https://www.instagram.com/live.panel/  

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Bilcke has been building her career in the trades for nearly 5 years. She started in landscape maintenance before making the shift to crane operation. Today she works for Paramount Alliance and is just seconds away from completing her apprenticeship with the 793 operators union. Zoe will be the first female crane operator that I've ever met and certainly the first to join me on this podcast! In this episode we talk about the importance of math in crane operation, the significance of good supportive teachers, and the satisfaction of being competent at doing hard things.   Find more of Zoe and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/zoedenisee/ zoebilcke@gmail.com