A free-apprenticeship program will be coming to Sarnia-Lambton later this summer.
This is the first program in Ontario as part of Women Building Futures.
Eight applicants will be introduced to careers in the automotive and heavy-duty equipment technician industries.
Women who are unemployed or underemployed from Sarnia-Lambton, Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point, Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Bkejwanong First Nation were invited to apply.
Manager of External Relations and Growth Rachel Veilleux said it's a 16-week program with eight weeks of in-class training and eight weeks of work placements.
"The goal at the end of the day is to be able to offer a pathway to begin an apprenticeship and/ or employment, especially if we can offer it locally that's even greater," she said. "It's just an opportunity to give them that chance to take that next step, which they often don't get."
The in-class portion will focus on essential safety certification, hands-on skills and workplace awareness.
Veilleux said some this includes working from heights, first-aid and CPR and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
"They will also learn about industry awareness. We know that technology plays a large role in many different sectors, especially within automotive and so just having an awareness of that," she said.
Meanwhile, the paid work placements will be divided into two, four-week sessions.
One for automotive service technician and the other for heavy duty equipment technician training.
Over 90 women applied for the eight spots available.
Veilleux said recruitment staff are currently narrowing down the successful applicants.
"For any students that do not make it into the program what's important to us is that their pathway doesn't stop there," she said. "We offer alternative opportunities for them to increase their skill set and education on that pathway and certainly others as they work towards financial independence."
Classes start on August 5 but a specific location on where they will be held has not been decided yet.
Veilleux said the hope is to keep Women Building Futures in the province for a long time.
"For this program we are continuing to investigate where the job demand lies within the skilled trades and the interests of the women in our community," she said.
Women Building Futures started in Edmonton, AB in 1998 but expanded into Ontario in January 2024.
It launched with the goal of introducing programming this year.