Episodes

  • SWWB Conversations - Honour the Work
    Jun 6 2024

    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/

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    38 mins
  • SWWB Conversations - Build a Dream
    May 30 2024

    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/

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    30 mins
  • Episode 51 - Michelle McCollum
    May 23 2024

    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/

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    47 mins
  • Episode 50 - McKenna Goodwin
    May 16 2024

    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/

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    26 mins
  • Episode 49 - Camryn Malaney
    May 9 2024

    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/

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    35 mins
  • SWWB Conversations - Aecon-Golden Mile
    May 2 2024

    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

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    28 mins
  • Episode 48 - Dee Durant
    Apr 25 2024

    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

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    40 mins
  • Episode 47 - Jami-Lyn Snow
    Apr 18 2024

    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.

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    34 mins