Creating Change Together
CCWESTT and BCIT Partner to Advance Inclusive Workplaces
Creating psychologically safe workplaces is essential to addressing the recruitment and retention challenges facing Canada’s skilled trades sector. When workers feel respected, valued, and supported, they’re more likely to build long-term careers, progress into leadership roles, and encourage others to enter the industry. For women and other underrepresented groups, that sense of belonging can make all the difference.
For years, CCWESTT has worked alongside employers and industry partners to promote respectful workplace cultures through practical education, leadership development, and tools that help organizations create lasting change. That commitment naturally aligned with the goals of ConnectHER.
A Partnership Built Through ConnectHER
Participation in the National Working Group created an opportunity for CCWESTT and the BCIT ConnectHER Hub to connect around a shared goal: helping create safer, more inclusive workplaces throughout the skilled trades.
Together, the two organizations co-hosted a Community Co-Action event that brought together 33 industry leaders, employers, educators, and workforce development professionals from across British Columbia. Facilitated by Trevor Mayoh of Next Gen Men, the event encouraged honest conversations about workplace culture, allyship, psychological safety, and the important role everyone plays in preventing gender-based violence and creating respectful workplaces.
From Conversation to Action
The event demonstrated the value of bringing diverse perspectives together.
Participants left with a stronger understanding of psychological safety, allyship, gender and intersectionality, and greater confidence in applying those concepts within their own organizations. Just as importantly, they formed new relationships, shared ideas, and explored practical approaches for creating more inclusive workplace cultures across the skilled trades.
The success of the Community Co-Action event reinforced an important lesson from ConnectHER: lasting change happens when organizations are willing to learn from one another and work together toward a common purpose.
Creating safer workplaces isn’t the responsibility of one organization or one individual. It happens when employers, educators, industry partners, and communities come together with a shared commitment to building workplaces where everyone feels respected, valued, and able to succeed.
– Jove Nazatul, CCWESTTJunior Project Manager
A Shared Commitment
The partnership between CCWESTT and the BCIT ConnectHER Hub is one example of how ConnectHER helped strengthen relationships across Canada’s skilled trades community. By creating opportunities for organizations to share expertise, collaborate on new initiatives, and learn from one another, ConnectHER demonstrated that meaning change and creating inclusive workplaces is a responsibility shared by everyone.
Join the ConnectHER Community
Connect with tradeswomen and industry partners who are helping shape the future of the skilled trades.
Join the conversation, share experiences, build connections, and become part of a growing movement creating change across Canada.