Diversity in the Skilled Trades sponsored by Toronto Hydro

Summary

The session explored career pathways, opportunities, and challenges in the skilled trades, with perspectives from workers at Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas. The panel emphasized that trades offer meaningful, hands-on work and that students do not need to have their career plans fully decided early.

Main Ideas

• What an apprenticeship involves: An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training with classroom learning and can lead to a trade credential or job.
• Different routes into the trades:
  • Taylor focused on math and science in high school, then completed a three-year electrical engineering technology program at Georgian College. Three four-month co-op placements helped her gain experience, meet people in the industry, and choose a career direction.
  • Lavanya moved through several industries, including automotive, signaling, alarm security, and gas. She said that enjoying the work and staying open to learning helped her progress.
• Why the trades are rewarding: Both panelists enjoy practical, hands-on work and the sense of serving the public. Taylor works with field crews to restore power after outages, while Lavanya values helping keep gas operations running and supporting her team.
• Why students may not enter the trades: Lavanya identified limited awareness of what trades involve and uncertainty about where to find training or apprenticeship opportunities. Mentorship and access to information can help students navigate these pathways.
• Workforce change creates opportunity: Many experienced tradespeople are approaching retirement. Passing their knowledge to newer workers is a challenge, but the need for new workers creates career opportunities. Lavanya also cited a figure indicating that a significant share of Canada’s tradespeople will need to upgrade their skills in the coming years.
• Barriers remain: Taylor described the difficulty of demanding college programs and the experience of being a woman in a male-dominated trade. Lavanya discussed challenges faced by women and people of color, while noting that workplaces and equipment are becoming more supportive and inclusive. Both encouraged persistence, skill-building, and seeking supportive people.
• There is no single “right” education path: Taylor did not decide on the trades until late high school. She stressed that college can lead to a successful career and that students have time to explore their interests before choosing a direction.

Practical Approaches and Lessons

• Explore through experience: Co-op placements can help students:
  • Build practical experience and professional connections.
  • Learn what different jobs are actually like.
  • Identify what they enjoy and what they do not.
  • Make the transition from school to work easier.
• Build knowledge deliberately: Seek out apprenticeship programs, courses, mentors, and conversations with people already working in the field.
• Keep learning on the job: Taylor stays current by asking colleagues questions, discussing new situations, reading training materials, and arranging time with field crews to understand the equipment and work she supports.
• Use a goal-setting process: Lavanya described a self-directed learning approach:
  1. Identify a skill or goal she genuinely wants to pursue.
  2. Set a clear direction and goals.
  3. Challenge herself to assess whether the goal is achievable.
  4. Commit to the effort and keep going.
  5. Monitor progress and check whether she is moving in the planned direction.
• Expect effort and change: Training and work can be demanding, and tradespeople need to keep their skills current as technologies and workplaces change.
• Look for mentors and support: Both speakers emphasized the value of colleagues, mentors, family, and organizations that support inclusion and development.

Land Acknowledgment

The event began with a land acknowledgment recognizing the Indigenous peoples of the lands across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. It also acknowledged the lasting effects of colonialism, treaty violations, residential schools, and the Sixties Scoop, and affirmed a responsibility to improve understanding and take action toward reconciliation.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Sam Effa — Host and moderator.
• Taylor Edgeson — Power systems controller apprentice at Toronto Hydro.
• Lavanya Hariharan — Team lead at Enbridge Gas compression stations.
• Toronto Hydro — Sponsor of the panel.

Announced but unable to attend: Daniel Green and Tyron Moses.