Girls Learn About Careers in Trades, Technology

Fifty Grade 9 girls from across Nova Scotia are learning about career options from marine biology to welding at the fifth annual Techsplorers conference today, April 25.

The conference is taking place at the Strait Area Campus of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). It's part of the Techsploration program aimed at increasing the number of women in science, trades, technical and technology-related occupations.

The program allows hands-on exploration of these careers for students from eight participating schools. Students are matched with women role models and spend four months researching occupations and touring work sites. At the conference, they give presentations on what they've learned, attend workshops and spend more time with their role models and program sponsors.

"As our population ages, there will be more and more opportunities for young Nova Scotians to get fulfilling jobs in trades and technology fields," said Guysborough-Port Hawkesbury MLA Ron Chisholm, on behalf of Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "Techsploration targets girls at an age when they're beginning to make career-related choices in their courses. It helps them to set their sights on these jobs now, so they can pursue the education they'll need to get them."

Techsploration is a joint initiative of the Women in Trades and Technology National Network, NSCC and the apprenticeship training division of the Department of Education.

"Giving young women the opportunity and encouragement they need to explore different careers is what Techsploration is all about," said program co-ordinator Tricia Robertson. "Many girls are making decisions to develop sophisticated skill sets needed in today's workforce, and that is important news for Nova Scotia's diverse and growing economy."

NSCC president Ray Ivany said that Techsploration makes students, sponsors, parents and teachers think differently about careers.

"It broadens acceptance of the many educational and life learning paths people can take to achieve their goals," he said. "Through the program, the college is seen with new eyes -- eyes of excitement about what a college education can do for young women, and for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the knowledge economy."

The eight schools participating in Techsploration are Waycobah First Nation Secondary School, Dr. J.H. Gillis Regional High School, East Antigonish Academy-Education Centre, Strait Area Education and Recreation Centre, Guysborough Academy, Canso Academy, St. Mary's Academy and Duncan MacMillan High School. The Strait and Halifax regional school boards and the Waycobah Board of Education help with the program as well.

Program sponsors are ExxonMobil Canada, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Black & McDonald Ltd, EnCana, ChevronTexaco, StoraEnso, ACCENT Engineering Consultants Inc., Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, Global SantaFe Drilling Company (Canada) Ltd., Karlsen Shipping Company Ltd., Dominion Diving Ltd., Dexter Construction Company Ltd., Marathon Canada Ltd., ElPaso, Coastal Oceans Associates Inc., Kerr-McGee Offshore Canada Ltd., G.J. Cahill, Halifax International Airport Authority, Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women and Offshore/Onshore Technologies Association of Nova Scotia.

An industry-driven task force has been formed to raise awareness and corporate funding to expand Techsploration to more schools across the province.

The Techsplorers conference runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today.