S5E26 - Kavitha

Welcome Carissa Belyk, Red Seal Electrician with FSR-B Certification. With 10 years in the electrical sector and over 15 years in the skilled trades, her journey to Powerline Technician is all about safety and community! 

Brandy welcomes another powerhouse from the trades! Learn how the Founder of Peggy Workwear and The Smoko Podcast applied her background in geology and time working at sea to execute her mission! https://www.peggyworkwear.ca/ https://www.smokopodcast.ca/  

After immigrating to Canada from India, Kavitha was introduced  to an all-women's trade workshop. Facing many challenges along the way, she's earned a rewarding career in Wood Finishing! Hear Kavitha's story this week on Women In Trades, our latest series on the All Things Renovation podcast.

Passionate about connecting people in the trades, Emilie is the Trades Navigator for Student Support and Engagement at the University of the Fraser Valley. Earning her Red Seal Certification in carpentry at just 23 years old, Emilie's career is well established with inspiring stories to share! 

For over 20 years Lisa Scott has been a passionate advocate for the skilled trades and a member of many organizations. She's a regional representative for the BC Centre For Women In The Trades; a Director at large for the BC Tradeswomen Society; a Board member for the College of New Caledonia; a Member of the Skilled Trades Committee for CUPE BC; and, also sits on a few committees with her Union  - local CUPE 4990.

Kristine Byers is a Red Seal Journeyperson Carpenter and Union Business Representative for the Carpenters’ Regional Council of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA). She is passionate about diversifying the workforce through the inclusion and advancement of women, Indigenous workers and other underrepresented groups in the trades.

From the Chilcotin First Nation in Williams Lake B.C., meet Red Seal Machinist and Machinist Instructor at BCIT, Chelsea Barron. Also a Regional Representative with BCCWITT, Chelsea is a mentor and advocate for all women, indigenous peoples, and other minorities in the skilled trades. 

Sandy Suter started cutting out decorative metal for house, signs and weathervanes when she was in high school. After exploring other non-trade career options, she's back building pipelines and sawmills! 

Lana Love is Field Operator with the newly formed company Arbios Biotech! She’s also a journey-level millwright and working on her Fourth Class Power Engineering Certification. Additionally representing BC Tradeswomen Society and BCCWITT, Lana’s helping change the culture of industrial and trades workplaces to be more inclusive to women and other underrepresented groups.

Shayla Aspden dropped out of business school and walked over to the trades building to enrol in the Plumbing & PipeTrade Foundation program at Camosun College in 2015. Now known as The Tiny Technician, she's never looked back! Also a very proud BCCWITT Regional Rep, Shayla provides support and resources to all females and underrepresented groups throughout the trades.