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Ontario women receive support through 2021 Skilled Trades Scholarship for Women

June 30, 2021  By Rock to Road Staff


The Building Opportunities for Life Today (BOLT) has partnered with Support Ontario Youth (SOY) to support women currently apprenticing in the skilled trades, with an award of $2,000 worth of scholarships, totalling to four scholarships at $500.

As the pandemic disproportionately affected women’s employment, this partnership looks to be a proactive approach to help incentivize young women to start their careers in the construction skilled trades.

“Too few women self-select into these in-demand and well-compensated careers and that needs to change,” says Raly Chakorova, executive director for BOLT Charitable Foundation. “Together with SOY, we are here to provide the information, support, and financial assistance that will help them be successful in a rewarding career in the industry.”

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must demonstrate a financial need, hold a valid registered trade agreement (RTA), be a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT), and live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The application is open now, and the deadline for submissions is August 1, 2021.

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“Women make up half of Canada’s workforce, yet there is a perception that they can’t work in construction trades because it may be too physically demanding,” says Stephen Sell, executive director for Support Ontario Youth. “We want to help break that stereotype by not only supporting, but empowering these women in construction. This partnership and scholarship are to help address and remove barriers that might help pave the way of achieving these trailblazer’s dreams.”

The successful applicants will be announced on September 30, 2021. For more information and to apply for the scholarship, please visit www.supportontarioyouth.ca.


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