'Jill of All Trades' event at Centennial College inspires young women to pursue careers in skilled trades

TORONTO, Oct. 24, 2023 /CNW/ - Centennial College hosted a Jill of All Trades event on October 24 to help inspire young women in high school to pursue careers in the skilled trades and technologies.

The full-day event took place at Centennial's Ashtonbee campus in Scarborough, welcoming more than 100 students from school boards across the GTA. Participants rotated through workshops that gave them a chance to roll up their sleeves and try their hand at different skilled trades.

"Jill of All Trades is an important opportunity to inspire young women about the possibility of trades as a career path they can take," said Michelle Solomon, Outreach Coordinator, Women in Non-Traditional Careers, Centennial College. "Trying out the skilled trades excites and empowers students to explore the options that are available in industries like construction and transportation."

The College's auto body workshop included activities such as using a plasma cutter to cut a design into a piece of sheet metal. The heavy-duty equipment workshop included activities like taking off and installing one of the over four feet tall wheels on a Caterpillar Loader.

"Through first-hand experience, students learn just how rewarding the skilled trades can be," said Alan McClelland, Dean, School of Transportation, Centennial College. "Centennial College operates one of the largest transportation technology schools in Canada, so it's a natural site for a skilled-trades orientation like Jill of All Trades."

Students and apprentices are educated on name-brand technology in world-class labs at Centennial's School of Transportation, home to more than $100-million worth of aircraft, vehicles and equipment. Innovative modified apprenticeship programs (MAPs) established with industry partners Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Canadian Tire and Mack/Volvo Trucks produce skilled, job-ready apprentices.

This is Centennial's second year hosting Jill of All Trades, which was founded by Conestoga College and has been running since 2014.

About Centennial College

Established as Ontario's first public college in 1966, Centennial College primarily serves the Greater Toronto Area with five distinct campuses. It is known for its exemplary teaching, innovative programming and extensive partnership building. Centennial offers more than 400 diploma, certificate, graduate certificate, apprenticeship and degree programs in business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, hospitality/tourism and transportation. These programs, delivered in class and online, promote experiential learning with laboratory instruction, co-op education and industry placements. Centennial annually enrols more than 36,000 students in full-time programs and thousands more in part-time studies. 

SOURCE Centennial College

Media contact: Michelle Ervin, Media Relations Manager, Centennial College, 647-633-2092, [email protected].