Girls in Trades and Technology inspires the next generation
It’s not your average elementary school field trip — it’s Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Girls in Trades and Technology (GITT) and it’s changing the way grade seven and eight girls see their futures.
Hosted annually during Saskatchewan Mining Week, GITT has been organized by Sask Polytech since 2017 at Saskatoon campus in partnership with Women in Mining/Women in Nuclear Saskatchewan’s (WIM/WiN-SK) WIMNspiration committee. The event invites hundreds of young girls to explore hands-on careers in trades and technology.
“The goal is to introduce girls to skilled trades and technology that support Saskatchewan’s mining industry,” says Danielle Faris, academic chair for the Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades. “We want to reach them before high school so they can think about what classes they might need to enter a trades or technology program. We’re here to light that spark, so they begin thinking about what’s ahead.”
This year, the event saw a record-breaking response. Over 200 students registered —prompting Sask Polytech to expand the event to two full days. Each day over 100 girls toured Sask Polytech’s labs and shops, guided by instructors, volunteers and industry professionals.
“This event aligns with WIM/WiN-SK’s commitment to guiding and motivating the next generation of women in mining,” says Jennifer Scott, co-chair of the WIMNspiration committee. Scott has been a committed volunteer for three years, playing a key role in organizing GITT this year. As a geologist and manager, Mine Development, Nutrien Potash, she enjoys being a role model and inspiring girls through this event.
“A highlight is watching the girls participate in hands-on activities and seeing the smiles on their faces. Having the girls take part in the activities helps to build confidence and shows them that they can do these things — careers in mining aren’t just for men. All of our WIM/WiN-SK volunteers at GITT are women who work in industry, which also helps the girls to imagine themselves in similar roles.”
This year WIM/WiN-SK had seven volunteers at the event, including five volunteers from Nutrien.
Seven Sask Polytech programs are highlighted including Carpentry, Electronic Systems Engineering Technology, Industrial Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Mining Engineering Technology, Machinist and Welding. All of these programs are important to the mining industry.
“We explore all aspects of the mining industry — from automation and robotics to designing, building and maintaining the mine environment and equipment that keeps everything running. There are so many exciting and important roles that make mining possible,” says Faris.
“This event highlights how trades and tech power Saskatchewan’s mines,” says Alison Zerr, Women in Trades and Technology, powered by Orano program head. “I am a welder and metal fabricator and all my industry experience was with mining companies. At GITT we are showing these girls real, exciting career paths. And if they decide to continue their education we will be here to support them.”
The event’s roots trace back to a conversation between WIM/WiN-SK and Sask Polytech’s Jamie Hilts, former dean for the Nutrien School of Mining, Manufacturing and Engineering Technologies who lost his battle to cancer in 2021. Since then, the WIM/WiN-SK partnership has grown, with Sask Polytech sending students to WIM/WiN-SK conferences and faculty attending industry events.
For many faculty members and volunteers, the purpose of GITT is personal. Faris recalls a mobile exhibit visiting her elementary school — the trailer focused on uranium mining and was filled with buttons and career possibilities. “It stood out. I’d never seen anything like it,” she says. “It influenced my education and career choices.”
Faris says, “I wish I had the chance to attend something like this with multiple trades when I was younger. Back then, I had no idea what I wanted to do. My older sister was studying engineering and had a summer job with an oil company — I worked with her for a bit, and that was my first experience watching a woman work in science. It opened my eyes to possibilities I hadn’t considered before."
Scott says, “When I was younger, I didn’t know what my options were or that I could have a successful career in mining. It’s wonderful to share these opportunities at GITT.”
Now, Faris, Zerr and Scott are helping create these important experiences for others.
With plans to expand GITT to Moose Jaw this fall, organizers hope to reach even more students across the province. “If people see how great it is now, we can bring it to more communities in the future,” Faris says.
As the girls don safety goggles and steel toes, one thing is clear — the future of trades and technology in Saskatchewan is looking bright.
WITT builds curriculum for camps, workshops and mentorship programs that teach women valuable skills, encourage women to think about different career options and address barriers that may limit women pursuing careers in trades and technology. Learn more at saskpolytech.ca/witt
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is signatory to the SDG Accord. Sustainable Development Goal alignment is one of the ways Sask Polytech is leading the rise of polytechnic education.
