Employer Resource Breakfast: Recruiting and retaining a dynamic and diverse workforce

On March 12, 2025, nearly 50 employers, apprentices, and industry partners came together at BCIT’s Burnaby Campus for the Employer Resource Breakfast, hosted by the ConnectHER Hub in collaboration with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA). The event was thoughtfully led by Anna Lary, whose dedication to advancing equity in the trades helped shape this important gathering. 

The event focused on sharing best practices for recruiting and retaining a dynamic and diverse workforce, with an emphasis on supporting equity-priority apprentices, particularly women and gender-diverse individuals. 

Stephanie Shrum, Program Manager at CAF-FCA and Rebecca Marshall, RSE, shared valuable insights and strategies on how employers can create inclusive hiring practices and foster supportive environments that encourage apprentice retention and career advancement. Attendees also discussed practical ways to strengthen workplace culture and build pathways for long-term success in the skilled trades. 

The Employer Resource Breakfast created a welcoming environment for meaningful conversations between employers, apprentices, and industry partners. Participants left with actionable strategies to support and enrich diversity in the trades workforce. 

Hosted by the ConnectHER Hub in collaboration with the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, the event highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and community building to move the industry forward.