She Wears Work Boots

Angela Coldwell is an award winning chemistry and physics teacher. She founded Honour The Work as a result of conversations with industry members who shared how K-12 students and adults generally aren't aware of how rewarding and diverse, skilled trades and AEC careers can be. Combining a love of hands-on learning, educational research, and projected workforce needs, the idea of grades 1-6 STEAMS Kits was born. Honour The Work serves to spark interest in young learners through books and building activities; connect youth and adults to useful resources through their website; and tell the stories of people in the industry via social media. Find more about Honour The Work and Angela Coldwell here: https://honourthework.ca/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/honor-the-work/posts/?feedView=all https://www.instagram.com/honourtheworkca/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-coldwell-aba836124/

6/6/24 • 38:21

Based in South-Western Ontario, Build a Dream is an organization that delivers specialized programs to encourage and empower women and girls to explore careers where women are under-represented, while also working to create a gender-balanced workforce and change global perspectives on women’s contribution to society. McKenna Goodwin is a Red Seal Endorsed General Carpenter. She currently works for Build a Dream as a Career Coach, working directly with tradeswomen and industry partners to improve the recruitment, retention and support of tradeswomen. Pinky Sabhnani is a dedicated Project Manager and the Employment Programs Lead. Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration, she thrives on understanding human behaviour and optimizing processes. Find more about Build a Dream, McKenna and Pinky here: https://www.webuildadream.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/webuildadream/ https://www.instagram.com/webuildadream/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-goodwin-rse-443093248/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/pinkysabhnani/

5/30/24 • 29:35

Michelle McCollum has over 30 years of experience in construction. Her career started in Edinburgh, Scotland where she spent 15 years working in municipal government. In 2008, she and her family moved to Canada.  Today, she is Vice-President, Facilities and Sustainability, for George Brown College where she leads the development and deployment of the sustainability strategy, campus planning and the evolution of the college’s physical footprint. Michelle is a highly skilled public sector leader and social responsibility advocate. At the start of her career she was consistently the only woman in every room and had to learn to navigate the stigmas, misconceptions and outright offensive behaviour of the men who populated the workforce. Although so much has changed, there is still much to do and Michelle is passionate about imparting her wisdom, confidence and encouragement to the next generation. Find more of Michelle and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mccollum-96b5b750/ https://www.linkedin.com/school/george-brown-college/ https://www.georgebrown.ca/

5/23/24 • 46:44

McKenna Goodwin is a Red Seal Endorsed General Carpenter from Ottawa, Ontario. She started her apprenticeship framing houses at age 16 and completed her apprenticeship with UBCJA Local 93 at age 21. Today, McKenna is a Career Coach for the non-profit organization Build a Dream and works directly with tradeswomen and industry partners to improve the recruitment, retention and support of tradeswomen. She is also the Vice-Chair of the technical committee developing the CSA Z301 Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Apprenticeship Programs standard. Find more of McKenna and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-goodwin-rse-443093248/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/webuildadream/ https://www.instagram.com/webuildadream/

5/16/24 • 26:19

Camryn Malaney grew up in a family deeply rooted in construction. Hailing from Buffalo, New York, she inherited her passion for the industry from her father, who has been working in development throughout her whole life. Today, she is the Director of Construction for Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota. The role allows her to work in her deep-seated passion for community service and allows her to be not just a builder of structures, but a builder of dreams and a catalyst for positive change. Her commitment to Habitat for Humanity reflects her dedication to helping others and creating pathways for individuals to thrive. Camryn has not only shattered glass ceilings but has also laid the foundation for her own success, as the 2023 Construction Woman of the Year & as a 2023 Young Professional of The Year Nominee. Find more of Camryn and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camryn-malaney-00ba86249/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/habitatsouthsarasota/ https://www.habitatsouthsarasota.org/

5/9/24 • 34:51

Adrienne Clarke and Jami Snow return for a different kind of episode. Adrienne and Jami have worked together at Aecon just over a year leading an innovative joint venture called Aecon-Golden Mile. AGM was created to expand economic opportunities for residents of the Greater Golden Mile that are facing barriers to the labour market.  In that short time they've each and both been active parts of some of Aecon's coolest initiatives and are here to share more about that and the unique dynamic of their working partnership. Find more information about AGM here: https://www.aecon.com/join-our-team/diversity-programs/aecon-golden-mile

5/2/24 • 27:49

Dee Durant is an electrical apprentice working towards her 309A Construction Maintenance electrical license. She is also a KickAss careers ambassador, a co-host of a talk show called Building Resilience on YouTube, and a former Weston scholar. Through her work and volunteerism, she encourages others to consider a career in the skilled trades, understand and end stigmas, and help to create a better workplace environment for all employed within the skilled trades. Dee has worked in a variety of different electrical trade environments and sectors, from the world's largest nuclear power plant to residential sales, services, new builds, and high-rises. She has already experienced and learned so much in her young career and although she has a lot more to learn, she is eager to see where the trades will take her career path next. In this episode we talk about ADHD and mental health, the importance of sharing with the next generation, and the joy of finding your people. Find more of Dee and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/dee.d15/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedurant/ https://www.kickasscareers.ca/ https://www.youtube.com/@Building2Resilience deedurant2000@gmail.com

4/25/24 • 40:29

Jami Snow has been working in construction for 11 years. Starting out as a temporary ground person with IBEW, she worked as a labourer on a solar farm, assembling a-frames & installing solar panels. Over time, her passion for the industry grew as she completed heavy equipment training and got her AZ license. In 2019, she saw a job posting for Aecon Women in Trades and joined the program. She's been with Aecon ever since working in a few different roles and today is the Senior Field Supervisor with the Aecon Golden Mile Joint Venture.

4/18/24 • 34:20

Cheyanne Hammell is the Manager of Special Projects for PCL Constructors, Toronto. In 2007 she graduated from Mohawk College with an Architectural Technology diploma in Construction Management. Today, with more than 18 years of experience in the construction industry, she is a visionary leader, driven and inspired by the thrill of construction and seeing the outcomes of hard work. She is a member of PCL Toronto’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Team, leading community involvement initiatives with not-for-profit organizations and encourages young women to explore career opportunities in industries like construction and engineering. Knowing the value of mentorship, Cheyanne is dedicated to developing her direct reports and those around her, acting as both a mentor and sponsor to other women within PCL and the construction industry. Cheyanne was recognized as a Premier’s Award for Technology recipient and an Alumni of Distinction by Mohawk College in 2023; a Top 40 Under 40 in Canadian Construction in 2022; and a Women’s Leadership Initiative Champion and Toronto District’s recipient of PCL’s internal Robert Stollery Construction Leadership Award in 2021. In this episode we talk about the technical side of construction project management, the ongoing learning required by the industry, and the joy of building cool things. Find more of Cheyanne and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheyanne-hammell-2612b130/ https://www.pcl.com/ca/en/services/special-projects

4/11/24 • 36:22

Jamie McMillan became an ironworker in 2002 when women only represented 2% of ironworkers across Canada and the United States. In 2012 she founded KickAss Careers, a grassroots initiative creating awareness and encouraging those of all ages and walks of life to consider careers in underrepresented occupations through school and community outreach. Jamie travels a lot, to speak all across North America. Her efforts have gained international notoriety for opening doors and minds to the possibilities of well-paid careers in skilled trades and technology sectors. But one of my most favourite recent initiatives is her new YouTube channel with co-host Dee Durant called Building Resilience. In this episode we talk about ADHD, mental health in trades, and the multi-faceted challenge of attracting and keeping talent in the trades. Find more of Jamie and her work here: https://madeinthetrade.com/ https://www.kickasscareers.ca/kickassteam https://www.youtube.com/@Building2Resilience

4/4/24 • 46:19

Just over a year ago, Jade Schaal was a teacher, specifically an ABA paraprofessional working with students on the autism spectrum. A gut instinct told her that the trades needed to be her next adventure and she took a leap of faith. Today, she is a sheet metal apprentice working in an HVAC fabrication shop and attending school through the union 2 nights a week. It's been just over a year since she stepped foot into Airside Sheet Metal and she couldn't be happier with the skills and confidence she's gained. Endlessly thankful for support from her workplace, co-workers, teachers, union, family and friends, Jade wants to share her story and encourage others to try something new. In this episode we talk about the joy of learning new things, the confidence that come from building competence and the importance of encouraging others by sharing your story. Find more of Jade and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/semicharmlife/

3/28/24 • 43:25

Adrienne Clarke joined Aecon in 2006 and has worked in many areas including running the utility locate team, the change-management department, and project management of the training and innovation centre. Today, in the position of General Manager she is responsible for Aecon Utilities Training and Innovation Centre, Aecon Golden Mile Joint Venture, and A3F which is a Joint Venture with the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Aamjiwnaang First Nation. In this episode we talk about the difference between construction in the office and the field, being engaged by new challenges and the joy of learning, and innovations in DEI that have real impacts for business and the communities its serves. Find more of Adrienne and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-clarke-31660880/ https://www.aecon.com/press-room/news/2022/09/16/aecon-women-in-trades-program-helping-women-trade-up-and-launch-rewarding-careers-in-construction https://www.aecon.com/join-our-team/diversity-programs/aecon-golden-mile

3/21/24 • 28:54

Victoria Monardo has been working in construction for 10 years. She is currently a full-time machine operator for a sewer and water crew with Hebster Construction. Over the years she has developed a wide variety of skills within general construction especially in landscaping. In her spare time, she runs her own landscape construction business, building and installing everything from interlock and retaining walls to grass and garden beds. In this episode, we talk about the prejudice that still exists around female operators, the importance of persistence to overcome hard things, and the joy and satisfaction of doing what you love. Find more of Victoria and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/victoriamonardo/ https://www.instagram.com/digginitlandscape/

3/14/24 • 41:25

Jess Deyong co-founded dollHOUSE design + build in April 2020 at the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. Over the next three years, Jess has guided the business through approximately 75 renovations to Century Homes in Hamilton, Ontario. From kitchens to bathrooms and basements to attics, Jess aims to juxtapose old and new to create vibrant, functional and stylish living spaces that work for each and every client. As part of the core of dollHOUSE's values, Jess and the crew strive to empower and build up women in the trades industry.  Jess is the founder of Facebook groups “So, You’re Thinking about Moving to Hamilton!” and the “HamOnt Home Improvement Community” and is extremely passionate about restoring Hamilton century homes, balancing charm and character with modern updates. She has been interviewed by the CBC and led design workshops focusing on kitchens, bathrooms and renovations for investors. She and the team are currently developing a series of DIY Workshops for women and members of the LGBTQ community to learn the basics of home renovations in a safe, judgement free space. Find more of dollHouse and Jess's and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/dollhouse_collective/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/dollhousehamont https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-deyong-8b5093a/

3/7/24 • 41:54

In a past life, Kelly McNamara worked as a Kinesiologist, doing functional assessments and ergonomic consulting for industry. Today she is an Apprentice Carpenter with Freestone Construction in Fernie, British Columbia. Pursuing carpentry full-time has altered her trajectory in such a positive way that, as she says: "I can’t NOT share this journey." As a member of British Columbia Center for Women in the Trades initiatives and via social media, she uses her platform to help break down the concept of traditional gender roles that still linger within the trades.  In this episode we talk about following your joy, creating and finding brave spaces and the importance of advocacy via organizations and social media to normalize women in trades. Find more of Kelly and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/macs.edge/ https://bccwitt.ca/

2/29/24 • 38:20

Carys Cao has been on a number of career paths ranging from teaching to insurance and even some work in corrections. Today she is a Journeyperson Handyman with LiUNA 183. She currently works new homes in their final stages, just before closing, cleaning up any minor deficiencies before the new homeowner moves in. She also services the warranty program which gives her a unique opportunity to work around people many of whom are women and kids who may never have seen a trades-woman before. Carys is on a personal mission to improve construction work culture and hopes to increase female visibility and membership as a LiUNA Ambassador. She is passionate about mental health in the trades. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and ADHD, she is working to make all workplaces safer for neurodivergent humans. In this episode we talk about the benefits of being a female identifying handyman, the important support of her union, and the statistics that prove that things ARE getting better! Find more of Carys and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/carys_like_paris/ https://liunalocal183.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/thebpdbunch/ BPD Bunch: Season 2, Ep 3 BPD & Working https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS8xAuYL95s

2/22/24 • 58:39

Sparky, Boots & Smoko's Live Panel is a collaboration of Lia Lamela, Alexis Armstrong and our own Lindsay Reynolds. These three ladies have come together as fellow podcasters and passionate advocates of story-telling and open conversation about women and other under-represented goups in in STEM, Trades and the Construction Industry. This episode is a recording of their first round-table conversation. The next one will be LIVE!! Find more of Sparky, Boots & Smoko here: Sparkly Life: https://open.spotify.com/show/4PKgW3PEpWHcIpDbxJKr5c The Smoko Podcast: https://www.smokopodcast.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/sparkylifeoflia/ https://www.instagram.com/thesmokopodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/peggyworkwear/ https://www.instagram.com/live.panel/            

2/14/24 • 37:06

Zoe Bilcke has been building her career in the trades for nearly 5 years. She started in landscape maintenance before making the shift to crane operation. Today she works for Paramount Alliance and is just seconds away from completing her apprenticeship with the 793 operators union. Zoe will be the first female crane operator that I've ever met and certainly the first to join me on this podcast! In this episode we talk about the importance of math in crane operation, the significance of good supportive teachers, and the satisfaction of being competent at doing hard things.   Find more of Zoe and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/zoedenisee/ zoebilcke@gmail.com

2/8/24 • 40:12

Fair Trades Toolbox has a mission to educate skilled trades employers on how to integrate women into their male-dominated workforce and to change the culture of the skilled trades industry for the better. At the head of Fair Trades is Brandi Ferenc, a Red Seal 313A Refrigeration Mechanic/Gas Fitter 1 Journey person with over 20 years in the trade. Her many claims to fame include being the first female to compete in the Skills Ontario competition within the post-secondary gas fitter category, an Alumni of Distinction award from Conestoga College, 2022 Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award and recently recognized as WXN's 2023 Top 100 women. But her most recent project and focus might very well be her most important to date.   Find more of Brandi and Fair Trades Toolbox here: https://www.fairtradestoolbox.com/ https://www.instagram.com/fair_trades_toolbox/ https://www.instagram.com/chlrchk/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandi-r-ferenc-a06817131/

2/1/24 • 38:59

Jessica Bannister is a 3rd generation HVAC contractor. Her dad apprenticed under his dad in the 1970’s and her brother followed in his footsteps right after high school.  But the trades were never considered as an option for her and so she went the traditional route of college and took an office job. In 2017, she joined Cam Cool as an admin but by March of 2018 she had registered as an apprentice and the journey began. Jessica is passionate about bringing more awareness to women in the trades, specifically women in HVAC-R. From speaking at and representing at industry events to her ongoing and engaging social media presence, she advocates tirelessly, encouraging young people (girls especially) to consider the HVAC trade as a real career option.   In this episode we talk about the importance of going for it, the impact of sharing your journey, and just how smart you have to be to be in HVAC.   Find more of Jessica and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/hvacjess/ https://www.tiktok.com/@hvacjess?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJnBJy9jSIRy9dbtqyMW_Uw      

1/25/24 • 33:01

In our very first She Wears Work Boots Conversations episode, we talk to Alexis Armstrong, host of the Smoko Podcast. Smoko exists to highlight the work and stories of women and female-identifying folks in STEM, trades and other non-traditional roles. In this episode, Alexis and Lindsay kick-back, relax and discuss the importance of projects like She Wears Work Boots, Smoko and the need for more! This is a podcast about podcasts, so join us for a peek behind the curtain. The Smoko Podcast is sponsored by Peggy Workwear: workwear designed for, with, and by women. From the shop floor to the boardroom, Peggy Workwear creates workwear which fits and functions for your everyday! After all, we've been in your boots.  www.peggyworkwear.ca Peggy Workwear Instagram www.smokopodcast.ca Smoko Podcast Instagram https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-smoko-podcast/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-armstrong-8277b279/

1/18/24 • 45:35

Chloe Arsenault is a fairly recent graduate of the civil and mining engineering program at College Boreal and currently works as a field technician at NSS Canada. Her work takes her to mines all across Canada and even overseas. While her career choice is pretty cool, her hobbies make it even cooler as Chloe continues to follow her passion for pageantry. Her platform called 'Tiaras and Trades,' exists to showcase how pursuing a career in the trades doesn't have to mean sacrificing one's feminine identity. She uses her platform at pageantry competitions to promote women into the skilled trades. She takes every opportunity to serve as a role model for women in the mining industry. Her aim is for women and young girls to be able to see themselves thriving in this field.  In this episode we talk about the exciting future of the industry, talents that aren't talents, and the unexpected platform found in pageantry.   Find more of Chloe and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/miss_chloe_arsenault/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-arsenault-a9a636210/

1/11/24 • 37:38

Molly Allgood went to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Honours Human Kinetics. Throughout University she spent the summers working up in Parry Sound Ontario building, renovating, and repairing cottages. She also helped with the work to open and close them, and although she loved it, it didn't seem like a career. Besides, at the time, she thought wanted to be a cop. When she realized that she actually hated her degree and being a cop wasn’t going to work out, she remembered her summer job and found a 1yr carpentry program. Today, with apprenticeship complete she works for Brolaws Construction doing renovations and building custom homes, and is just one test away from completing her Red Seal. In this episode we discuss the pressure to meet the expectations of others, the circuitous path to finding what you love, and how finding your fit in the trades can lead to finding your fit in your own skin, too.   Find more of Molly and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/mollythecarpenter/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollythecarpenter?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/brolawsrus/?hl=en https://www.brolawsconstruction.com/

1/4/24 • 33:35

Lauren Petro is an Environmental Engineer. For the past 7 years she has been working on large-scale environmental remediation projects that often involve mine or landfill closures or large amounts of contaminated soil. Over the course of her career she has also developed a passion for advocacy for women in construction and hopes to inspire more women to join a field filled with exciting opportunities.   Find more of Lauren and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenpetro/

12/28/23 • 43:10

Julia Rose Lundvall is a Red Seal Brick and Stone Mason working and adventuring through Toronto, Ontario. She started her journey in the trades after many years of struggle, perceiving it as a last chance and only option. Having no prior experience in construction she took the ultimate leap of faith, and after years of hard work, struggle and accomplishment has come out on the other side as a Red Seal Brick and Stone Mason and a prominent businesswoman. Over the years she has developed a true passion for the work and a devotion to help other young people just like her find a life-changing path that truly means something, and brings the satisfaction of knowing you are an essential part of society, it's foundation and wellbeing. In this episode we talk about the the joy of building things that last, the freedom and chaos of going out on your own and the empowerment and healing that can be found in the trades.   Find more of Julia and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/the.brick.chick/ https://www.thebrickchickmasonry.com/ https://ontariomasonrytrainingcentre.com/pre-app/ https://www.instagram.com/avenueroadmasonry/

12/21/23 • 34:38

Elyse Chiu's road to drywall finishing started with a rental property. She had been working as a paramedic in Toronto for 14 years when she and her wife bought a house and started renovating, and something in there sparked a fascination with mudding and taping. She continued in her EMS career while renovating on the side, but everything changed in 2019 when they moved out East to Moncton, New Brunswick and started a renovation company. When the Pandemic hit reno work became uncertain and she wanted to keep learning. Thankfully an apprenticeship opportunity with a commercial drywall company presented itself. She took it hasn't looked back. In this episode we talk about surprising paths to trades, the (still) too few women who work in the industry, and the meticulous patience required in drywall taping.   Find more of Elyse and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/elysethedrywallfinisher/ https://www.instagram.com/spec3properties/ https://www.instagram.com/nbnewboots/

12/14/23 • 38:20

Marina Ramos has been working in construction for a decade. She has been on all types of projects from commercial and retail, pharmaceutical and industrial all the way to residential high-rise. Her extensive knowledge in BIM Management and Scheduling has been core to her career. Marina uses her knowledge and skill to liaise with consultants and trades and achieve a unified goal of building smarter and faster while reducing risk and costs on site. She uses skills such as analytical thinking, model management, and a strong knowledge of construction to creates schedules that reflect the reality of the project from start to finish. Today she manages the BIM & Scheduling department at Clark Construction Management in Toronto Ontario and is also a Professor at the BIM Management post-graduate program at George Brown college where she teaches the BIM Management and Capstone course.    Find more of Marina and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marinaframos/ https://clarkconstructionmgt.com/ https://coned.georgebrown.ca/courses-and-programs/it-delivery-capstone-project-online

11/23/23 • 27:31

Veronica Da Luca has been working as a structural designer and Engineer for about 11 years. Her work has a significant focus on cold formed steel framing (otherwise known as steel studs) which is a very niche market within the Engineering world. Today, she is Division Manager of the Toronto office for Building Structures with MTE, while still managing the CFS team and performing regular site visits on projects. In between it all she's made time to be with me on the show and I'm so excited to share her story with you.   Find more of Veronica and her work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicadeluca1/ https://www.mte85.com/services/structural-engineering/

11/16/23 • 28:43

Patricia Robinson is a testament to the importance of those women in trades who are sharing their stories. Her journey towards a carpentry apprenticeship was literally inspired by all the women she saw posting about their awesome careers on social media. Feeling drawn toward carpentry and trades for so many reasons, she started with a wood-working night-class, and discovered that the college offered a free pre-apprenticeship program, registered, fell in love, and hasn't looked back. Even today she continues to branch out - beyond wood-work to welding and even steel fabrication. In the transition from Office Administration to work on the tools she is learning new things every day and finding new ways to share with her community. As an active and committed volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, trade-work is not just about earning a living for her, but also very much about giving back.   Find more of Patricia and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/trishatradieladie/

11/9/23 • 30:23

Emily Lynch is a Labour Apprentice with LiUNA local 183 working on Highrise construction projects in downtown Toronto. Just over 2 years ago she stared sharing small parts of her work and career journey on Instagram in hopes to inspire other girls and women to look at construction as a serious career path. In her feed she shares about everything from transfer-slabs and concrete pumps to winterizing fly-forms and cleaning up after everyone else. If you visit her page, you can't help but catch a bit of her enthusiasm for building and enjoy her curiosity and delight at all that she is learning on her journey. In this episode we talk about the positive changes for women that she is just starting to see, the joy of day on a crew with another woman, and the importance of following your happiness.   Find more of Emily and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/torontoconstructionlady/

10/26/23 • 39:59