Collaboration across campus supports elevating women in skilled trades
and retention in the classroom and on the job
Walking by the wood trades labs at SAIT, you’ll spot female instructors teaching apprenticeship students how to use a table saw. Head up to the welding labs and you might find grade-school girls learning how to fuse metal together — while it may not be immediately apparent thanks to personal protective equipment.
Creating spaces for women in skilled trades starts in the classroom at SAIT.
From promoting equity and belonging to working collaboratively with industry, SAIT takes a multi-faceted approach to advancing women in skilled trades.
Get them hooked early
Like any passion, piquing interest in skilled trades early plants a seed the SAIT Youth Initiatives team is ready to help nurture. Our summer camps are designed to spark curiosity and build confidence as youth learn new skills. The non-traditional program offerings encourage camp goers in Grades 1 - 12 to discover interests and envision future career opportunities.
Exploring Skilled Trades for Girls is an annual event held at SAIT to introduce female-identifying students in junior high to the skilled trades. The day is filled with hands-on activities led by instructors and mentors, giving students an opportunity to discover new interests and explore the world of apprenticeship education.
Students can dabble in activities ranging from bricklaying and autobody to motorcycle mechanics, refrigeration, roofing, welding and woodworking. Hosted in collaboration with industry partners, the event allows participants to see themselves in a post-secondary apprenticeship and envision a future career in skilled trades.
DYK
Welding for girls is available at an introductory level to teach basic welding techniques and intermediate to take those skills to the next level.
Building community on campus
Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) was formed in 2015 by instructors in the School of Construction to support women entering less-traditional career paths. Today, more than 100 industry professionals and members of the SAIT community meet regularly to champion gender diversity and inclusion in trades and technology.
We’re creating space on campus to encourage meaningful conversation with students, staff, faculty and industry. By working together, our community continues to strive for more equitable standards across sectors and lead to further retention of women in the skilled trades.
DYK
SAIT’s annual International Women’s Day event is hosted with WITT to celebrate women's social, economic and cultural achievements.
Accessibility 🤝 education
The Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) Retention Program was launched in 2025 to enhance female representation in apprenticeship education. Through the creation of mentorship opportunities, promoting inclusive workspaces and reducing systemic barriers, SAIT is committed to encouraging more women to pursue and thrive in the skilled trades.
Women-identifying apprentices can apply for financial support to cover childcare, tuition and essential supplies — such as tools and PPE. Funded in part by the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the program was awarded $1.28 million over three years to help women focus on their training and build successful careers.
This dynamic initiative was designed to enhance recruitment and retention efforts for female apprentices by meeting the following objectives:
- Build mentorship momentum
Mentorship Momentum events create a vibrant community through mentorship, peer support and valuable knowledge-sharing opportunities with experienced industry professionals. - Reduce barriers to participation
Financial support to assist in overcoming obstacles to attending apprenticeship programs. - Promote inclusive workplaces
Online learning modules designed for apprentices, inclusive culture workshops delivered to employers to promote workplace equity and monthly meetups to build community and support among apprenticeship students, instructors and alumni.
By blending SAIT expertise in early education, academia and community and belonging with apprenticeship education guided by strong connections to industry, we’re championing new initiatives to build equity for women in skilled trades.
Oki, Âba wathtech, Danit'ada, Tawnshi, Hello.
SAIT is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of Treaty 7 which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina and the Îyârhe Nakoda of Bearspaw, Chiniki and Goodstoney.
We are situated in an area the Blackfoot tribes traditionally called Moh’kinsstis, where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. We now call it the city of Calgary, which is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta.