Jill of All Trades provides hands-on inspiration for future careers

ArcelorMittal Dofasco was once again a sponsor of the Jill of All Trades event at Mohawk College's School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship, where female high school students from across the Hamilton region were introduced to the skilled trades.

Through hands-on workshops including one led by our own mentors, young women from across Hamilton left with a better understanding and appreciation of some of the rewarding careers available to them in the skilled trades.

At the start of the day, Leslie Golka (Manager, Health & Safety Culture Development) ran a health and safety activity for all attendees. Kelsey Calligaro (Maintenance Mechanical Planner, 2 CPCM) and Samantha Hanrath (CTS Weld Shop) were both mentors for one of the hands-on workshops.

Nicole Turner (Coordinator, Human Resources) and Kristin Petten (Manager, Talent Management, Human Resources) were at the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Awareness Centre booth speaking to students and teachers about educational pathways into the skilled trades and which programs we recruit from.

I grew up with being involved in many trades, as my father was a millwright. My family has always been very hands-on workers, and I learned to use that knowledge to be able to support yourself,” Kelsey says. “I wanted to participate in the Jill of All Trades event to show girls that there are a lot of opportunities to be self-sustaining and independent. There is great feeling of accomplishment when completing a new skill. This is a crucial event to get information and provide the opportunity for girls to communicate with people who have had real-life experience in the trades.”