Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program Comes to Estrie in Partnership With SAE-Estrie and CWB Welding Foundation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 28, 2023

Business Service Estrie (SAE-Estrie) is excited to announce that they will be one of 14 hosts across Canada for CWB Welding Foundation’s initiative: The Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program. The program provides learning opportunities that foster education, personal growth, confidence, and experiential learning for women interested in exploring welding and other welding-related skilled trades careers.

As more skilled trades workers are looking to retire, the pending gap continues to grow, and opportunities for a career in the industry are countless. Welding, and welding fabrication provides a gateway to skilled trades and other related professions, and offers a well-paying, stable career choice with many options for women.

This pre-employment program includes practical theory, hands-on welding training, and skills development in a safe and supportive environment. Participants will be introduced to the GMAW and FCAW welding processes and will have the opportunity to obtain multiple certifications from the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB Groups).

Accompanied by a team of professionals, participants will be offered the opportunity to initiate a RAC process (Recognition of Acquired Competencies) to eventually obtain a certificate or diploma from the Quebec Ministry of Education.

The SAE-Estrie is proud to offer for the first time in Quebec The Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program, in a bilingual format.

The program is 16 weeks, running from May 1^st to August 16, 2023. The training will be hosted at the Lennoxville Vocational Training Centre, 1700 Collegest., Sherbrooke Québec.

All those who identify as a woman and/or non-binary, including those from racialized or marginalized groups such as Indigenous, Black, newcomers, LGBTQ2S, women with disabilities, or with a prolonged detachment from the labour force are encouraged to apply.

To find out more go to: https://sae-estrie.gouv.qc.ca/en/formations/women-of-steel/

About the CWB Welding Foundation

The CWB Welding Foundation is a national registered charity that relies on the support of industry and community organizations to address the welding skilled trade shortage in Canada. Through education-based programs and initiatives, we continue to reduce barriers that affect key groups; elementary, secondary, and post-secondary students and educators, Indigenous People, women, and the underrepresented. We envision a future where all individuals are encouraged and provided the support needed to reach their true potential in a career in welding regardless of identity factors, social and financial status, and lived experiences including gender, age, ethnicity, language, literacy, culture, income, and geographical location.

The Women of Steel™: Forging Forward Program is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Women Employment Readiness Pilot Program.