Vikki Schlonies is a plumber/fitter and a professor/coordinator for the plumbing department at Conestoga College. Vikki started out in the healthcare field. After assessing her work/ life balance and determining she was dissatisfied with the hours and shifts, she decided it was time for a change and looked to the trades as a potential career.

At the time, there weren’t many women in trades and when she put herself out there, she experienced some initial hesitation and misinformed perceptions regarding her commitment and abilities. Because of this, Vikki joined a program at Conestoga College called WIST (Women in Skilled Trades).

It was a carpentry program, and although she wasn’t interested in carpentry it served as an opportunity to gain experience and strengthen her resume. Through the program’s working component, she was hired by a local plumbing company, and she’s never looked back.

Download Vikki’s story here.

Louise Riives is a certified Heavy Equipment Technician (HET) mechanic, specializing in maintaining and repairing heavy-duty equipment both on and off the road. Her decision to pursue a trade was heavily influenced by her mother, who encouraged her to “do a man’s job and earn a man’s money” to gain the freedom to live life on her terms.

Although her father was an electrician, Louise ruled out following in his footsteps as she didn’t see herself in that particular trade. Instead, her interest in patterns and assembling things led her to realize that being a mechanic aligned with her skills. Understanding systems and putting them together was something that always interested her, so she decided to give it a try.

Louise enjoys the satisfaction that comes from taking something that’s totally broken and unusable and then putting it back together so that it can do what it was intended to do.

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Liz Sandwith is a Red Seal refrigeration and air conditioning technician. Initially, she worked as an office manager at a veterinary hospital, but at the age of 37, Liz decided to explore the skilled trades. Having some exposure to the HVAC field through her ex-husband, who was an HVAC technician, she decided to give it a shot.

Liz enrolled in a pre-employment program in New Brunswick and worked as a pre-apprentice to ensure the field was the right fit for her. She quickly discovered her passion for the trade, successfully completed the program, and secured employment immediately after. In 2019, Liz achieved her Red Seal certification in HVAC, becoming the first woman in New Brunswick to earn this distinction.

One of the biggest appeals of the skilled trades for Liz is the ability to earn while you learn. She noted that the hands-on mentorship from experienced professionals who do the work daily is also a bonus, as you are not left to navigate challenges on your own. Another benefit, according to Liz, is that unlike spending four years at university and taking time to repay student loans, pursuing a skilled trade allows you to start earning a good income early and advance your career efficiently.

Download Liz’s story here.