With the increased presence of women as welders and employed through the skilled trades sector becoming more significant in recent times, there is much focus on the innovative efforts of the Stratford based not-for-profit Technical Training Group (TTG).
Founded two decades ago by tech director and cooperative educator Mark Roth, the goal was to create a community-based operation comprised of skilled instructors, volunteers, with partnerships within education, industrial and government circles addressing the sector’s needs.
As for his views on the subject of women fitting into what has always been a largely male dominated field, the progressive-minded Roth makes the case for a liberated, more integrated workplace.
“There must be a greater representation of females in the trade, doing equally well as their male counterparts,” he said “At TTG there is no segregation. Here you just weld and that is the way it should be because gender should play no part.
“We now have numerous female students and instructors. One, who is a graduate of our system, is teaching Level 3 of welding. The number of women in skilled trades is on the rise and we see continued future success.”
TTG executive Cavell Fraser is encouraged that the numbers of women signing up and ultimately graduating from the facility are steadily on the move upward, agreeing with the founder’s assessment of brighter prospects down the road.
“This year we have 15 women apprentices in our welding course with one teaching Level 3,” she said. “Right now, there are 10 in the pre-apprenticeship program for welding, metal fabrication and machining with three teaching.
“I’m very impressed with the women who have come through our program. They are paving the way for others. On many occasions we’d hear a woman say ‘I would be really interested but I don’t want to be the only one.’ Now its common to have two, three or four in a welding class.”
Applicants must be 18 by the end of the program and able to work full time for the placement. There is no cap at the upper end of the age scale, as there are students in the pre-apprenticeship program age 50 and older.
Pointing to instructors, active volunteers, a strong board of directors and a solid strategic plan in place, Fraser says the goal is to keep growing at a pace maintaining sustainability.
“We’ve just been approved to run dual credit training this year, which is new here,” she added. “Local students used to be bussed all the way to Sarnia to Lambton College if they wanted a credit in welding but now it’s available here in Stratford.
“TTG has been rubber-stamped to run the general machinist apprenticeship training which is also new here. That will be next fall and we’re looking at expanding with one new location. This is great for women looking for better wages and benefits to support a family.”
Student Dana Aeberhard learned about TTG while engaged in a course called Women in Steel partnered through Fanshawe College and CWB Welding Foundation. The fully-funded program targets women and women-identifying individuals, providing practical theory, hands-on welding training and skills development.
“I listened to a panel of women in the trades like Liz Balletto, TTG Office and Pre-Apprenticeship Program Manager,” she said. “I asked Liz about other courses, so she suggested I apply for the pre-apprenticeship program and it snowballed from there.
“I’ve finished the classes and have an eight-week placement in an Atwood shop. My dad was a blacksmith and my brother a welder by trade. I’ve worked agricultural related jobs and been exposed to welding. It’s in my blood. Next is my apprenticeship and on to get the Red Seal (the national standard of excellence for welding and other skilled trades in Canada)."
She has words of praise for TTG instructor Brandy Bundscho, whose fascination with welding and skilled trades began as she was entering Grade 9 when she was unsure of a career path to take.
“I enjoyed hands-on activities so I wanted to be in the shop,” Bundscho explained. “I did some auto, machining and welding but nothing stuck like welding so through the grades I wanted to be there.
“During the summer my co-op placement was with the company I’m now with (VanNes Custom Welding). My co-op teacher told me that TTG offered a program for high school students. There was an opening for Level 1 welding apprenticeship when I was still in school, then I finished Levels 2 and 3. Last year I instructed in Listowel. This summer I’m in Stratford teaching pre-apprenticeship students.”
Raised on a dairy farm, she gained proficiency working with field equipment, troubleshooting milking apparatus and swapping motors. Planning to take over her parents’ operation, she also makes fire pits and field signs for family and friends with her own welding company.
“TTG has played a major role in my journey,” she said. “I never thought I’d be an instructor, let alone in welding. Nothing has held me back because all students, men and women, are treated equally. You’re there to learn and your gender has nothing to do with being a welder. It’s another skill in my pocket.”
TTG offers tuition-free pre-apprenticeship multiple trades exposure programs offered at state-of-the-art facilities in Stratford, Clinton and Listowel with in-school training, on-the-job-experience and an eight-week paid work placement.
Balletto said the Employment Ontario Program, funded in part by the federal and provincial governments, has a core team of committed instructors focused on training, administrative assistants, and many community partners.
The ratio of women of all ages and backgrounds to men has grown in the past few years. Interested in skilled trades, many move on to successful careers, with some role models becoming mentors returning to instruct.
“Without partners like Avon Maitland District School Board, Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, Conestoga Career Centre, the Centre for Employment and Learning, and local companies there wouldn’t be the excellent facilities, equipment and placements we enjoy.”
Another student, Hunter Youngblut, was working at a horse breeding farm and unsure of future career moves. She learned about TTG through the SET7 and Fanshawe program, moving on to the introductory course, then pre- apprenticeship.
“Initially I started messing around with a stick welder and found I liked that,” she said.
Once I did the introductory courses, I realized it was something I was pretty good at so it looked like a good career choice.
Youngblut began a 25-week course in May, which includes an eight-week placement and then Red Seal.
"I was impressed with instructors always being there for you and ready to answer any question. You sense they loved teaching. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience. In the welding world I’m happy with myself and pleased how far I’ve come so far.”
Local companies like Accumetal Manufacturing Inc. – specializing in metal fabricating and welding for the off-road vehicles – has enjoyed success with placements with the company ultimately employing TTG graduates.
“We currently have number of welders from TTG,” said Human Resources Generalist Cassidy Stewart. Placements have worked extremely well for us over the years with the majority staying on with us.
“A few years back there were no women welders but seven have done placements and five are still at Accumetal. They work and thrive in a good environment often alongside former student workers. We’ve had good relationships with student co-ops from high schools with many starting a trade at a younger age.”
The key is remembering what Roth said so succinctly, “You just weld and that is the way it should be because gender does not matter.”
