Laurier’s ‘Building Equitable Trades’ photo-research exhibit highlights steps toward inclusion in the skilled trades

May 2, 2024

In an image from the new photo-research exhibit “Building Equitable Trades,” machinist Beverly Roach is pictured with metal shavings obscuring half of her face. Partial concealment is a common motif throughout the exhibit, symbolizing how women in the skilled trades often conceal parts of their identity rather than bring their full selves to the workplace.

“Building Equitable Trades,” a collaboration between Wilfrid Laurier University, Conestoga College and the Grand Valley Construction Association, launches on May 16 with a celebratory event at Conestoga College’s Reuter Drive campus. Curator Eden Hennessey hopes to ignite conversations through the pairing of powerful photographs with empirical research evidence.

“By combining research with dynamic images to create interactive installations, we invite audiences to take action toward creating a more representative and equitable environment for those pursuing careers in the trades,” says Hennessey, a social psychologist and the equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) data specialist at Laurier.

Beverly Roach, Machinist (description below)

“Building Equitable Trades” is the latest in a series of EDI-focused photo-research exhibits the Laurier Centre for Women in Science (WinS) has collaborated on with photographer Hilary Gauld. “Turning Tables in STEM” from 2019 showcased gender inequities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. 

Hennessey, who is research and programs director of WinS, notes that the gender disparity in skilled trades is “dramatically” worse than in STEM: less than five per cent of skilled trade workers are women, while women represent approximately 23 per cent of STEM professionals in Canada.

Hennessey is clear that inclusion is not just about adding more women to the field, however. She says that more research must be done to understand the experiences of women in the trades once they begin working.

“If these work environments are not safe, healthy and welcoming, then we can’t keep inviting women and marginalized people to join,” says Hennessey.

Together with the Grand Valley Construction Association (GVCA), WinS hopes to conduct a national study evaluating the experiences of women in the skilled trades.

Vikki Schlonies, Plumber/Fitter (description below)

“Embracing diversity and championing women in leadership is an important part of the Grand Valley Construction Association's vision for the future of skilled trades,” says Mandy Bujold, manager of Industry and Community Partnerships at GVCA. “Events like this help build a foundation for inclusivity and empowerment within the industry.”

“Building Equitable Trades” will be unveiled on May 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Conestoga’s Reuter Drive campus. Registration is free and open to all.

“Conestoga is committed to fostering and enhancing women’s participation, persistence, and academic and career success in engineering, technology and trades,” says Joni Jean, chair of the Schools of Engineering and Technology and Trades and Apprenticeship at Conestoga. “We are pleased to collaborate to share this powerful exhibit that sheds light on the experiences and accomplishments of women in skilled trades, emphasizing the need for greater representation and equity and sparking conversations that drive positive change.”

Image Descriptions

Beverly Roach, Machinist

From “Building Equitable Trades”
Copyright @WinS2024

Bev, a Black woman in the skilled trades, is a successful and highly skilled machinist. Despite her achievements, Bev is seldom taken seriously, often being told that her “token” status is the main factor contributing to her success. This is not an uncommon experience for Black women in fields composed mostly of white men.

Vikki Schlonies, Plumber/Fitter

From “Building Equitable Trades”
Copyright @WinS2024

Have you ever heard the term the “leaky pipeline?” This is one of the phrases used to describe the loss of women in STEM fields and academia. It can also be used to explain the lack of women in the skilled trades and seems an apt description for the lack of women plumbers. Vikki is fulfilled and successful as a plumber, yet she is only one of a few women plumbers in Canada. Can this lack of representation be blamed on a leaky pipe, or is it time to move beyond this basic metaphor?