Toolkit for building community in the skilled trades

At the SET2025 Conference hosted by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, Anna Lary, Project Lead of the ConnectHER Hub at BCIT, co-presented Toolkit for Building Community, with Lisa Scott of the Construction Foundation of British Columbia. 

This session brought together women and gender-diverse tradespeople from across Canada to explore practical tools for strengthening inclusion and belonging in the skilled trades fields where many still face isolation and systemic barriers. 

As a trades faculty, Anna Lary has long championed equity in trades education. Her partnership with Lisa Scott, a respected leader known for her fierce kindness, grounded leadership, and deep commitment to trades inclusion, was a natural fit. Together, they offered insight into how building authentic relationships and intentional peer networks can meaningfully shift culture in male-dominated industries. 

“While we’re free thinkers, we also celebrate, support, and learn from each other. That connection is where the real change happens,” says Anna Lary.

The presentation emphasized that community-building doesn’t need to be complex to be impactful. Attendees described feeling an immediate sense of ease and recognition as they connected over shared values: pride in building things, resilience in the face of barriers, and a commitment to reshaping the trades for future generations. 

The session also highlighted the leadership of inspiring women and gender-diverse trailblazers from across the country, including Lindsay Kearns, Nicole Wiet, Andrea Durdle, Jove Nazatul, Denise Dauvin, Car Belyk, Anne Lee, and Breena Jackson. Their work continues to inform ConnectHER’s ongoing efforts to strengthen recruitment and retention in skilled trades through community-first strategies. 

Special thanks to France Daviault and the CAF-FCA team for creating an inclusive and empowering space, and to Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions for their generous support.