We are proud to share news about a new partnership with the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS), as we step in to help support the vital education and advocacy goals of their Sexual Harassment Advice, Response, and Prevention for Workplaces (SHARP Workplaces) program. The SHARP Workplaces Legal Clinic provides up to five hours of free confidential legal advice to help any worker who has experienced sexual harassment at work. And, in collaboration with the team at SHARP Workplaces, we will be delivering free virtual and in-person training to provide the information, resources, and guidance needed to address sexual harassment in BC’s trades industry. Find out more here: https://bccwitt.ca/sharp/

This innovative new program helps participants become leaders in identifying where psychological safety issues are hurting too many people who work in the construction trades. Show Up supports participants, industry leaders and organizations with practical strategies and tools…helping people recognize and support mental health and substance use concerns, prevent toxic workplace culture, and become active partners in creating healthier and more stable work environments.

Apply today to secure a limited spot for this FREE training:

https://bccwitt.ca/showup/

2025 BCCWITT Year in Review

In 2025, the BC Centre for Women in the Trades…

Launched Show Up for Safer Workplaces

After over a year of hard work by our Show Up team, and alongside our committed partners, Show Up for Safer Workplaces launched strong this fall: it has already trained over 30 participants through our three pilot cohorts! And the feedback on the way it addresses critical issues impacting people in the trades has been really positive.

Check out our new promo video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNBW7UUqfGQ

And learn more about this four-day psychological health and safety training program here: https://bccwitt.ca/showup/

Built a community of apprentices through the ConnectHER Journey to Success for Women Apprentices program

The JSWA program brought together over 100 women and gender-diverse apprentices and pre-apprentices from across the province for training, community building, mentorship, and networking events. Funded through Fanshawe’s ConnectHER, we offered monthly meetups, leadership development training, financial skills development, and in person events…offering new connections and opportunities to apprentices across the province in over 25 different trades!

See some of the testimonials from the program on Facebook here.

Wrapped our Career Advancement Bursary and Project Grant Programs 

Funded through the BC Enhance program (thanks to an investment from the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills), BCCWITT was able to disperse vital funding, in the form of both individual bursaries and project grants, directly to tradespeople across the province, between the spring of 2023 and spring of 2025!

Some bursary stats:

• We managed and delivered nearly 300 individual bursaries that helped equity priority tradespeople advance their careers—with bursaries targeted to flexibly help support the individual needs of each applicant.
• People typically used these bursaries for things like the purchase of tools or PPE, or for covering tuition or training fees. But we also had applications for things like fixing vehicles to ensure trades workers could get themselves and their tools to and from worksites, personal strength training (women looking to build muscle strength to allow them to better manage the physical nature of apprentice work), the cost of flexible child care coverage, rent supplements in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, community building opportunities, and accessing mental health supports.
• Over 85% of funding went to women or gender diverse applicants, with the other 15% going to other equity priority trades workers who face barriers in their career journey.
• Applications came from regions across the province, and represented people working in 46 different trades!

Some project grant stats:

• 100% of the 26 project grants went to women or gender diverse applicants looking to host initiatives to promote skilled trades careers to youth and equity priority people.
• Individual projects included Youth in Trades camps, hosting meetups (where tradeswomen created community and vital connections across sites and trades, helping support retention), Building Tiny Homes (built for refugees, using the building experience as an opportunity to recruit community members into skilled trades careers), a women in trades photoshoot, a trades Pride event, and a project introducing carpentry skills to those caring for a community garden in Ntamtquen.

Helped over 100 women enter the industry 

Here at the end of 2025 we’re celebrating the continued success of our Trades Training and Employment program (also known as our Careers program), which once again helped over 100 women enter careers in construction, maintenance, and industrial trades across the province. See some of the testimonials from that program on Facebook here.

The BCCWITT office will close for the holidays on December 23rd and reopen on January 5th, with some of our team also taking a few extra days around this window. We hope you’re able to enjoy a restful break, so we can all return in 2026 ready to continue the good work we get to do together. 

On November 11^th, 2025 a Minnesota welder named Amber Czech showed up to work, as if it was any other day…but she never made it home. In the early hours of her shift, she was violently murdered by a male co-worker, who according to local reports, had planned to kill her for “some time” because he didn’t like her.

Amber was only 20 years old, but her passion and commitment as a tradeswoman was already clear. The GoFundMe page dedicated in her memory describes her in this way: “Amber was a hardworking welder who took great pride in her craft and dreamed of building a bright future through her work. Her witty personality, positive attitude, and beautiful smile touched everyone who knew her.”

This was an extreme act of workplace violence. And it’s being felt widely.

In fact, the tragedy is reverberating across the trades community and across borders—we know there are many members of the BCCWITT community who are feeling the weight of this incident as word spreads. We know this has hit close to home.

This act of violence is reminding too many tradeswomen and gender-diverse workers in the trades of the range of hate, harassment, and violence they have faced. It reminds them of the comments they’ve tried to ignore, the jokes they’ve had to call out, the bullying they’ve fought back against, the jobs they’ve left, and, sometimes, of the incidents they couldn’t get away from.

So, for those impacted by this terrible news, please remember you are not alone. Remember we stand as a community together, and know there are options that can help with the immediate feelings you may be having, including:

• Reach out to a friend or colleague to talk.
• Access counselling if you feel you need to and can (this could be available through work benefits packages, via your training institute or school, members of the BC Building Trades unions can access fully funded counselling via BuildStrong by CIRP, or call 2-1-1 to see if there are other affordable counselling options in your community).
• Commit to an action that will help create change (e.g. start a conversation to raise the profile of these issues, make a donation to a cause that addresses gender or work-based violence, or attend an event in your community).

The sad reality is: we stand only a week away from the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and this tragic incident reminds us all that the violence we face exists at work, in addition to in our homes and on our local streets. This calls on all of us to double down and continue to do the work required to make our communities and our workplaces safer for everyone.

Statement also available here: Statement on Death of Minnesota Tradeswoman, Amber Czech

BCCWITT is partnering with CCWESTT and BCIT to host this upcoming FREE co-action discussion lunch!

This is not your standard HR workshop! We know there is a labour shortage in the skilled trades. But how do leading companies address this?

Join us for this FREE conversation, where we’ll explore strategies that will help you retain the best team and create a safer workplace—including strategies to help improve business performance, recruit and retain highly skilled teams, and explore how workers’ mental health impacts the worksite. You won’t want to miss this chance to become a leader in gender inclusion in the trades.

Lunch is will be included. 

Register now to give your business a competitive edge!

Date: November 14, 2025

Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Location: BCIT – 3700 Willingdon Ave, Burnaby, BC

Get your tickets here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/co-action-bc

The BC Centre for Women in the Trades is recruiting women in the Victoria area who want to start working as Fire Alarm / Fire Protection Technicians! Fire Alarm Technicians install, inspect, test, and repair fire alarm systems to ensure they are functioning correctly and comply with safety regulations.

To qualify for the BCCWITT Trades Training and Employment program, you must be:
• A woman
• Unemployed or precariously employed
• A citizen or a permanent resident entitled to work in Canada
• Available to work immediately (not a full-time student or already employed full-time)

For this specific Fire Alarm / Fire Protection Technician employment opportunity, you should also:
• Have a valid BC drivers license and a vehicle
• Be detail oriented and have a strong mechanical aptitude
• Have strong communication and problem-solving skills
• Be able to lift equipment and tools
• Live in or around Victoria, BC
• Be available to attend an info session on October 3rd.

Fill out the interest list form to learn more: https://form.jotform.com/BCCWITT2/FireAlarmTech

After a lot of hard work, we’re excited to be launching our pilot training session for Show Up for Safer Workplaces!

Show Up is an innovative new program that will create safer, healthier, and more productive workplaces throughout the construction sector, by giving workers and employers the practical tools to address urgent psychological safety hazards—including addressing mental health and addiction, suicide prevention, and bullying and harassment.

Show Up is designed as a four-day comprehensive training program that can help people recognize and support mental health and substance use concerns, prevent toxic workplace culture, and become active partners in creating healthier and more stable work environments.

Topics covered will include psychological safety, mental health first aid and suicide awareness, substance use, and bullying, harassment and discrimination—including providing participants with strategies and resources they can take back to their jobsites that will help build more respectful, stable and healthier workplaces. In addition to the more fulsome training and take-away tools, participants will also attain a certificate in Mental Health First Aid, as developed and recognized by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.

We invite you to get in on our free pilot training sessions, offered on:

– September 23-26, in Burnaby

– October 27-30, in downtown Vancouver

– November 25-28, in Burnaby

Not in the Lower Mainland? We’ll be adding new dates and locations for 2026 soon!

Learn more about how you can Show Up, and apply today! https://bccwitt.ca/showup/

Our BCCWITT team was proud to be one of the 406 organizations who submitted a written submission (below) to the 2026 Budget Consultation process…standing alongside so many other organizations who are calling on government to make vital investments that will improve the lives of people living and working in BC.

Given the varied economic challenges our economy faces, and in line with government’s ambitious housing targets and commitments to investing in infrastructure, it’s more important than ever that BC also invest in the recruitment and retention of skilled workers to help address ongoing labour shortages in the construction and trades sectors. One of the best ways to do that is to actively engage underrepresented labour pools to build the affordable homes, child care centres, and public infrastructure that BC urgently needs—in particular, it means engaging women* and gender-diverse people who represent the largest untapped source of skilled trades workers.

We were happy to have our advocacy work on this issue recognized, as cited in the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services’ report on the Budget 2026 consultation—alongside organizations like the BC Real Estate Association and CUPE Local 4879—as we work to ensure access to trades and skills training is inclusive and helps people overcome the systemic barriers they continue to face.

We were also glad to see the Committee acknowledge the importance of the continued expansion of child care facilities, especially for shift workers. We know this is a vital investment that will help keep more women and gender-diverse people working in the trades—which is why it was another priority we included in our submission, amplifying the calls from the BC Coalition of Child Care Advocates and the Early Childhood Educators of BC.

There’s a lot of work to be done on a wide range of issues, but we will continue to advocate so that we can support more tradeswomen and gender-diverse workers in the trades. We do so knowing our work aligns with government priorities and goals, and has opportunity to create lasting positive changes that can make the trades sector healthier, safer and more stable for all.

*According to the BC Construction Association only about 5% of people working in the industry are women.

Below is our written submission to the 2026 Budget Consultation process, submitted June 20, 2025.

Organizational introduction: BC Centre for Women in the Trades

The BC Centre for Women in the Trades (BCCWITT), established in 2018, works to address both the systemic barriers that hinder the participation of women and gender-diverse people in the trades, and the cultural and workplace conditions that impact their advancement and retention.

Our recommendations focus on the continuing need to transform the trades workforce by increasing diversity and equity, ensuring greater long-term workforce sustainability, and aligning with Canada’s broader economic development goals—possible through continued strategic investments, working alongside partners who share the goals of government, like with BCCWITT.

Recommendation 1: Strengthen the Housing Workforce by Investing in Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Skilled Trades

Despite ongoing efforts by governments, training institutions, and industry stakeholders, women still only represent about five percent of the total trades workforce in Canada—a figure that has remained stagnant for decades. This underrepresentation continues amid a critical skilled labour shortage and growing calls for economic resilience, particularly considering ongoing instability caused by trade disruptions.

As BC plans for a just and fair economic recovery, there is both an opportunity and responsibility to ensure the skilled trades are inclusive and reflective of the communities they serve. This means creating the conditions for thriving, stable industries where everyone—including women, gender-diverse people, and workers from equity-deserving groups—can see themselves building careers in good, family-supporting jobs.

To meet ambitious provincial and federal housing targets, British Columbia must grow and sustain a skilled, diverse construction workforce. That means actively engaging underrepresented labour pools to build the affordable homes, child care centres, and public infrastructure that BC urgently needs—in particular, it means engaging women and gender-diverse people who represent the largest untapped source of skilled trades workers.

Additionally, with government advancing major housing initiatives such as BC Builds and the Housing Accelerator Fund, investments in targeted recruitment and retention initiatives—like mentorship, safety training, and inclusive site practices—are essential to meeting delivery goals and ensuring equity in opportunity.

Given provincial and federal governments’ prioritization of economic resilience and skilled labour force development, this recommendation is aligned with:

• BC’s economic development and workforce strategies;
• Canada’s inclusive growth and gender equity mandates; and
• The current government’s commitment to lower costs, increase affordability, and create good-paying jobs across the province.

Recommendation 2: Provide Stable Core Funding to Sustain Programs That Support Women and Gender-Diverse Tradesworkers

Provide ongoing core operational funding to BCCWITT to ensure long-term stability of vital programs that help women and gender-diverse tradesworkers overcome barriers, enter the skilled trades, and thrive in their careers.

Core funding will enable BCCWITT to continue delivering and expanding critical initiatives such as:

• Trades Training and Employment Program: this workforce development program gets more women into skilled trades—helping women of all intersectional identities overcome barriers. BCCWITT’s career development professionals offer participants individualized support, including access to Short Term Occupational Certificates, resume and interview guidance, and job start supports (e.g. purchase of PPE or tools, transportation incentives, etc.) to ensure successful transitions into jobs. Staff also work with employers to identify and fulfill distinct hiring needs, delivering opportunities that benefit individuals and industry.
• Show Up for Safer Workplaces: an innovative new program that helps participants become leaders in identifying where mental health, addiction and psychological safety issues are hurting people in the construction trades. Show Up supports industry leaders and organizations with strategies and tools to address these issues that are impacting too many workers, employers and communities. This program engages people of all genders, making workplaces healthier for everyone to build lasting careers in.

As the only organization dedicated to advancing gender-based equity in BC’s trades workforce, BCCWITT plays a pivotal role in addressing systemic barriers.

Bringing more women and gender-diverse workers into the trades and helping keep them there, this work accelerates housing construction, reduces systemic labour gaps, and contributes to increased economic stability. The recommendation aligns with government priorities around building a resilient, inclusive economy and addressing skilled labour shortages through targeted workforce development.

Recommendation 3: Invest in Shift-Work Compatible Child Care Options to Support Retention in the Trades

Support and scale the $10aDay Child Care Plan with targeted investments in models that meet the needs of shift-working families—including tradeswomen and gender-diverse tradesworkers—through extended support for child care spaces that offer non-standard hours and flexibly scheduled care options.

Tradesworkers often begin their day well before 9 a.m., with many facing rotating schedules or long commutes to job sites. Without flexible and affordable care options, many skilled workers—who are parents or who become parents—are forced to leave the sector, creating an avoidable and costly loss of talent and experience.

This recommendation reinforces the BC Coalition of Child Care Advocates and Early Childhood Educators of BC’s call for publicly funded, community-delivered child care that works for all families—including those working in shift-based and essential industries. Aligning the child care system with the realities of the trades workforce will promote gender equity, improve retention, and ensure that more people who live and work in British Columbia can fully participate in the economy.