STEPH SPRENGER
BIZ/TECH REPORTER

Young women and girls will get a chance to learn about trades and technical vocations at an event hosted by Humber’s North Campus next Tuesday.
“Construction trades like welder, electrician, framer, are still mostly men,” said Humber’s associate dean of trades Joe Tamona. “The stereotypes, while they are loosening up, are still there.”
Many of Humber’s trade and technical programs can count the number of female participants over the last 10 years on one hand.
“You can almost name them all,” says the plumbing program co-ordinator, Richard Snowdon.

Event draws women to male-dominated trades. (Steph Sprenger)

Presentations by faculty in electrical engineering, plumbing, robotics, landscaping and other traditionally male-dominated programs will explain the skill-sets required for the programs and offer hands-on activities, like soldering.
“It’s that seeding idea,” said Ron Dorcas, who represents the York Catholic District School Board, who has sent junior high girls to the event for years.
“We want to give these young ladies the tools to make decisions about their future,” he said.
The event features a panel of female Humber students who will share their experiences in male-dominated programs.
Magda Horbacz, the only female student in her automation and robotics program, is participating in the panel.
“I remember on my first day in the program, I got into class and someone was like ‘Oh I think you’re in the wrong class,” she said.
Since then, she said, her experience has been positive.
Terrie Greco, faculty for the landscape technician program, said female enrolment in her program has grown dramatically over the last 15 years. In her field, employers are eager to add women to their jobsites.
“Employers really like having women as employees,” she said.  “They’ve said this countless times at job fairs, they’ve said this in emails when they’re looking for students.”
Greco added employers find having both men and women working together enhances the culture of the workplace.