Potential learners who self-declare as First Nations (Status and Non-Status), Métis or Inuit are now eligible for free application to any RRC Polytech program.

“We know improving access for Indigenous learners and for students from different backgrounds requires multiple forms of support,” says Dr. Christine Watson, Vice-President Academic.

“Waiving the application fee and working directly with Indigenous students and the communities that support them allows us to remove a financial barrier that is faced when individuals begin to think about joining RRC Polytech as a student. This is one step in alleviating additional barriers they may face in their journey from applying to attending.”

The initiative reduces a financial barrier for Indigenous learners and follows two month-long pilot campaigns in 2024 and 2025 that drew more than 400 and 700 applications, respectively.

These results demonstrated the demand for more accessible application pathways, contributing to the decision to make the initiative permanent. Laureen Janzen, Director of Student Support Services, said many Indigenous applicants shared that the initiative helped them feel welcome at RRC Polytech.

“One person said they felt like they won the lottery,” says Janzen. “By making this a year-round initiative, Indigenous applicants can now also take their time to consider program fit, meet with some of our support services on campus and really understand the programs and the admission requirements.”

RRC Polytech recognizes that financial barriers are only one of several challenges some Indigenous learners may face when considering post-secondary. Potential learners can connect with an Indigenous Academic Advisor to help navigate the transition to post-secondary.

Current students can also access support at RRC Polytech’s Indigenous Student Support Centres, where they can participate in events, cultural teachings and ceremonies, or spend time with friends.

Prospective students can learn more about programs at RRC Polytech’s Open Doors event – which invites future learners, families, community members and Nations to explore campuses, meet instructors and learn more about Indigenous support services.

The event takes place Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Notre Dame Campus and Exchange District Campus.

To further reduce financial barriers, RRC Polytech is providing a bursary giveaway at Open Doors, offering all future students the chance to win a $5,000 bursary to put towards the costs of their program.

Today, RRC Polytech and the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) Local 73 celebrated the signing of an agreement that puts change into action to decolonize and enhance equity and inclusion within the Polytech’s Collective Agreement.

This collaboration — the first of its kind — represents a new and transformative approach to advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action within labour relations and the collective bargaining process. What sets it apart is the intentional approach rooted in Indigenous knowledge and ways of being, guided by a Knowledge Keeper and supported by both RRC Polytech and MGEU.

“The signing reflects the collaborative work of RRC Polytech and MGEU to live our shared values, advancing Truth and Reconciliation organizationally and within Manitoba,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech.

“This process stands out across Canada, setting a precedent for other post-secondary institutions by aligning with Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement (TRCE) and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA), honouring Indigenous Knowledge Protocols, and fostering leadership, mentorship and systemic change at the Polytech.”

To review RRC Polytech’s collective agreement, a joint Truth and Reconciliation Working Group was established through an expression of interest, comprised of eight staff and faculty representing both parties.

Guided by Kookum Barbara Bruce’s teachings, ceremony and wisdom, the group ensured the process moved forward in a good way, grounded in Indigenous Knowledge Protocols. Using priority-setting and Design Thinking — a non-linear, iterative process that reflects true Indigenous engagement — the working group developed recommendations under key themes for the collective agreement.

“It was my honour to be asked to bring ceremonial ways to the discussion and deliberation of components of the collective agreement. I think it had a profound effect on the outcome of these discussions,” says Bruce. “The success of the collective agreement is credited to the people involved who accepted and invested in the process, allowing spirit to guide the discussions,”

The key themes of inclusive language, family, leaves, and sickness and health align with principles of Truth and Reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Twenty-one recommended actions from these themes were put forward to RRC Polytech’s labour management committee.

“This new agreement represents a meaningful step toward reconciliation and is an example of how we can use the opportunities presented through collective bargaining to make the lives of workers and their communities better” says MGEU President Kyle Ross.

“We are proud of what has been achieved through our collaboration with RRC Polytech, guided by the leadership and knowledge of Kookum Barbara Bruce, and are excited to see how these changes help members feel more respected, supported and included.”

Nearly all actions were implemented in RRC Polytech’s 2025–2028 collective agreement — a level of adoption rarely seen in collective bargaining and a testament to the leadership of the working group and supporters from both RRC Polytech and MGEU. These additions to the agreement encourage and support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous employees.

Not only does this collective achievement advance Truth and Reconciliation within labour relations and the collective bargaining process at the Polytech, it also reaffirms both parties’ commitment to continue this work collaboratively, ensuring future reviews and recommendations reflect shared values rooted in Truth and Reconciliation and EDIA.

RRC Polytech and MGEU have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to re-commit to reviewing the collective agreement through the next bargaining process.

Truth and Reconciliation is a journey. Together, RRC Polytech and MGEU have created a model that demonstrates what is possible when values guide action — resulting in tangible outcomes that will shape future collective agreements and hopefully inspire similar efforts across other organizations.

Learn more about the actions implemented within RRC Polytech’s 2025–2028 collective agreement to advance Truth and Reconciliation.

There’s a meaningful new addition to the flags that fly on the front lawn at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus. This morning, in recognition of the International Week of Deaf People and the International Day of Sign Languages, the Polytech raised the Deaf Flag for the first time in its history, following a short ceremony open to the community.

“Today is a wonderful celebration of our values in action,” says Fred Meier, President and CEO. “RRC Polytech strives to be a place where all members of our community can learn, work and thrive. Our hope is that through raising this flag, we are sending a powerful message to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they are welcome and supported on our campuses.”

Deaf staff and faculty members initially raised the idea of flying the flag to demonstrate the Polytech’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, and to show all members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that they have a place at RRC Polytech.

“The Deaf Flag is a symbol of unity and inclusiveness, making the timing of today’s event all the more significant as we welcomed the return of the ASL-English Interpretation program to RRC Polytech this fall,” says Cheryle Broszeit, an instructor at RRC Polytech.

The ASL (American Sign Language)-English Interpretation program recently underwent an academic transformation of its content, design and delivery to better meet the emerging needs of learners and the community and was led by feedback from the Deaf and interpreting communities. This fall, there are nine students enrolled in the renewed program.

“The ASL-English Interpretation program underscores the value of the connection between the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and interpreting communities,” says Broszeit. “The new and improved program now has a stronger foundation for our students, so they can begin their careers as interpreters confidently and competently once they graduate.”

This morning’s event featured remarks from Meier, Broszeit and Rick Zimmer, Deaf advocate and former instructor and coordinator of Deaf Studies programs at RRC Polytech. Current Deaf students and students from the ASL-English Interpretation program came together to raise the flag.

French Deafblind artist Arnaud Balard designed the flag, which was adopted by the Deaf French National Federation in 2014 and has since been flown around the world. The Deaf Flag is a powerful symbol for Deaf communities, representing unity, recognition and the ongoing fight for equal rights. RRC Polytech sourced the flag directly from the World Federation of the Deaf.

The Deaf Flag now joins flags representing Treaty One, the Red River Métis and RRC Polytech’s Inclusive Pride flag, which are flown year-round at RRC Polytech. It will be flown for the remainder of the week, and every year moving forward during the International Week of the Deaf.

RRC Polytech is hosting its seventh annual Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement (TRCE) Week to mark the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day, on September 30.

This year, TRCE Week began on Monday, Sept. 22, with a virtual keynote from Phyllis Webstad, whose story of Residential Schools started the Orange Shirt movement in 2013.

RRC Polytech has also partnered with Nursing student Dasia Chatkana, whose original design is featured on the RRC Polytech Orange Shirt in support of the Mínwastánikéwin Truth and Reconciliation Award, which is awarded to Indigenous students every year in January.

“Every year for seven years, the RRC Polytech community has come together to learn about Truth and Reconciliation and Canada’s true history from Indigenous perspectives,” says Jamie Wilson, RRC Polytech’s Vice-President, Indigenous Strategy, Business Development and Research.

“It’s important for us as an educational institution to not only affirm these histories centring Indigenous Peoples, but also to raise awareness to non-Indigenous Canadians that what they were taught in school doesn’t necessarily reflect all realities.”

TRCE Week is five days filled with sessions to educate the RRC Polytech community about the many different responsibilities of Truth and Reconciliation.

While Truth and Reconciliation is a year-round commitment for RRC Polytech, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a focal point that encourages employees and students to immerse themselves in Indigenous Teachings, storytelling and experiences.

Opportunities to cultivate understandings of the true history and current issues impacting Indigenous Peoples, and reconciliation efforts by society as a whole, contribute to a stronger, more unified community that benefits all members.

“Truth and Reconciliation is an ongoing process of learning and integrating new information, disentangling ourselves from misinformation and unlearning what we think we know, and opening ourselves to truths that might surprise or challenge us,” says Carla Kematch, Director, Truth and Reconciliation and Community Engagement.

“All the sessions we host this week are something that each participant can take back to the classroom, to the workplace and to their personal lives — so they can continue the lifelong journey of learning today, tomorrow and every day into the future as we work towards building a better and brighter future for all,”

Planned sessions include a virtual keynote from Phyllis Webstad, whose story inspired the Orange Shirt movement; a Two Spirit Sharing Circle; workshops for Talking Sticks, drumming, and painting; and panel discussions with the Knowledge Keepers Council and staff on Indigenous perspectives in inclusive hiring and belonging.

Other sessions explore Inuit culture, traditional teachings like the Cedar Bath, and the historical timelines of the First Nations and Métis.

RRC Polytech’s original Orange Shirt, which is released every year as part of TRCE Week, was designed by Nursing student Dasia Chatkana and can be purchased through the Campus Store.

To learn more about Truth and Reconciliation Week sessions, see the full event schedule.

RRC Polytech has launched a new housing alternative for students attending its Winnipeg campuses — and is looking for community members to open their doors.

Offered in partnership with home-share providers SpacesShared, the new initiative connects students with safe and affordable housing through intuitive technology, scheduled check-ins and dedicated human support.

And with RRC Polytech students now able to access the service, a call has gone out to local residents to sign up as potential hosts.

“When a student comes to study at RRC Polytech, we want to ensure they are supported — not only in their studies, but also in navigating Winnipeg and learning what our city has to offer,” says Giselle Martel, Vice-President, Finance and Administration at RRC Polytech.

“We’ve entered into this partnership to provide students with safe, affordable and convenient options for housing off campus. Having this program in place will reduce the stress for students navigating the housing and rental market on their own, and allow them to focus on their training.”

RRC Polytech’s student residence at the Paterson GlobalFoods Institute provides accommodations for 102 students, but there is a need for other options to support students coming from other parts of Manitoba and Canada, or from outside the country.

Enter SpacesShared, an organization with similar networks across Canada that’s committed to building, sustaining and supporting intergenerational home-sharing and fostering meaningful connections between students and hosts.

“RRC Polytech is the first partnership SpacesShared has in Winnipeg and we’re excited to provide students with a great housing option,” says CEO Rylan Kinnon. “We’ve seen success in cities across Canada and know that students at RRC Polytech will create lifelong friendships with their hosts. Bringing people together creates incredible opportunities for bonding and we love to hear from our hosts and students about the experiences they share together.”

Currently, there are eight people registered to host RRC Polytech students through the service, with hopes that more will register prior to upcoming academic terms.

Enrico Madrid and his wife are among the first local homeowners to sign up as a potential host through SpacesShared. He says he’s looking forward to building connections and maybe continuing his own lifelong learning.

“I enjoy seeing how young people now approach studies and how they learn, because then I learn a new way of doing things,” he says. “But hopefully I can help them learn too — math has always been my favourite.”

For Spila Lee, a graduate of RRC Polytech’s Hospitality Business Management program, sharing cultures and creating a sense of community was an important part of her experience living in residence as a student at RRC Polytech.

Lee says living with a host family would be a great way to integrate into Winnipeg’s way of life.

“The first year I was a resident I was quite impressed with all the activities I could join. I met a lot of different people, and I think it could be a similar experience for someone living with a host family,” she says.

“Living in a house with locals gives you the opportunity to explore the neighbourhood, go to favourite restaurants and try activities that you might not always hear about.”

She said the most important thing is that there will be a level of support from host families that can help students be successful in their training.

“Especially for newcomers — we came without any family support, so having someone be supportive really matters. Whether on campus or with a host family, it makes a really huge difference,” Lee says.

Learn more about accessing housing through RRC Polytech’s SpacesShared partnership, or sign up as a potential host.

RRC Polytech’s Prairie Research Kitchen (PRK) has joined an applied research consortium — made possible by a $1.2-million investment from Protein Industries Canada (PIC) — aimed at exploring agri-food opportunities and addressing barriers to food security in rural and remote communities in Manitoba.

The $1.6-million project finds staff and students from PRK and the University of Manitoba’s (UM) College of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences working together with communities across the province to address food insecurity and Indigenous food sovereignty barriers related to First Nations and Red River Métis food production and distribution systems.

“I am pleased to be announcing a new partnership as part of a consortium, together with RRC Polytech and the University of Manitoba, and enabled by the commitment and funding provided through Protein Industries Canada,” said David Beaudin, Minister of Agriculture and Associate Minister of Provincial Education for the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), in a news release.

“This project will help facilitate the reimagining of Red River Métis food systems and will unlock new opportunities to better connect with our foods across the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. I look forward to seeing the project build value through capacity and skills development, all while enabling greater local access to nutritious food options.”

Food security exists when all people — at all times — have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. It’s not just about having enough food — it also means having the ability to access it and use it in a way that supports a healthy, active life.

Fresh, nutrient-dense groceries often come with a hefty price tag in rural and remote Indigenous communities. The new consortium will work with Red River Métis and First Nations communities in Manitoba to increase access to affordable, nutritious, supply-stable and culturally appropriate food while creating community-specific recipes that incorporate pulses and other plant-based ingredients.

The creation of these options aims to nourish and nurture long-term health outcomes, while increasing opportunities for student learning and jobs and contributing toward future Indigenous economic development.

“The investments into this project are advancing the future of food for all Canadians,” says Protein Industries Canada CEO Robert Hunter.

“Diversifying the value-added sector provides protein options and country-wide economic growth that supports the expansion of Canada’s plant-based food and ingredient ecosystem. It’s equally important that we invest in communities and economic reconciliation with Indigenous people, ensuring the growth of this industry supports inclusion, shared prosperity and long-term partnerships across the country.”

Throughout this project, RRC Polytech, MMF and UM will engage community members, hire students and interns, perform market research on both food products and future resource applications, develop food products, teach hands-on classes and develop workshop materials to engage communities in food production and cooking skills.

The project will provide a case study for engaging in respectful discussions with Indigenous communities and creating an example for other organizations to follow.

“RRC Polytech is committed to elevating Indigenous Peoples and communities, so we’re excited for our team of experts at Prairie Research Kitchen to join our partners in this transformative initiative,” says Jamie Wilson, Vice-President, Indigenous Strategy, Research and Business Development, RRC Polytech.

“PRK’s professional staff and student workforce has led the way in embracing Truth and Reconciliation within our College community, and across the province at large, by being the first to create Indigenous research positions, mandating Four Seasons training for all staff, engaging students from the Indigenous Culinary Skills program and actively pursuing and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs.

“Their knowledge, understanding and eagerness to collaborate will be a tremendous asset to the project.”

RRC Polytech will more than double the child-care spaces at its Notre Dame Campus daycare, thanks to funding from the federal and provincial governments announced this week.

Through the Canada-Manitoba Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement, the College will receive support to add 74 new child-care spaces to the R.R.C. Early Childhood Centre Inc.

“Child care continues to be one of the barriers that prevents Manitobans from accessing post-secondary education and training,” says Fred Meier, the College’s President and CEO. “RRC Polytech is committed to creating more pathways to education and enhancing the student experience, and we’re thrilled to have the support of the federal and provincial governments to create these new spaces and help us achieve this.

“These new spaces represent an opportunity for potential learners who would otherwise be unable to attend full-time programs, and for staff and community members who have been unable to find convenient, quality child-care solutions.”

RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Centre currently has 53 spaces, serving current students, staff and community members.

“R.R.C. Early Childhood Centre Inc. has been serving staff and students of RRC Polytech for the past 50 years. We are excited to see our program grow to serve more people,” says Executive Director Samantha Henry.

“We look forward to our continued partnership with RRC Polytech to ensure that we can continue to provide high quality child care and support families, as they pursue their post-secondary education and training or pursue their careers and grow their families.”

The expansion was part of an announcement made by the Hon. Jenna Sudds, federal Minister of Children and Social Development, and the Hon. Tracy Schmidt, provincial Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning.

“Child care is a vital support for parents, families and communities and that’s why we need to meet parents and children where they are,” said Sudds in a release.

“We’ll continue to work with Manitoba to find new innovative solutions to creating more affordable child-care spaces, to reduce waitlists and to grow the early childhood workforce, to fit parents’ needs, where and when they need it the most.”

“We’re investing in child-care spaces to meet parents and caregivers where they’re at to make life easier for families,” said Schmidt in a release. “Our government continues to build the child-care system as a whole — creating spaces that meet the needs of families, offering programming to attract and support child-care professionals and investing in learning outcomes for a quality early education experience.”

The governments of Canada and Manitoba are funding 128 new child-care spaces between RRC Polytech and the University College of the North’s Thompson campus. These spaces are in addition to those previously announced at nine other post-secondary campuses across the province, for a combined total of over 800 new spaces at Manitoba post-secondary institutions and a total investment of $60.5 million.

Further details about the construction and anticipated opening date for the RRC Polytech expansion will be shared with the College community as they are available.

RRC Polytech’s Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education Workplace programs have limited spaces available for Fall 2025. The workplace program allows experienced child-care assistants working in licensed child-care programs across Manitoba to remain employed while obtaining the specialized skills needed to be an ECE Level II.

Earlier this summer, the federal and provincial government announced over $12 million in combined funding towards community initiatives and organizations working to end gender-based violence.

RRC Polytech’s Shelter Support Worker micro-credential will receive $350,000 to continue to offer this important tuition-free program – one of 19 organizations in Manitoba to receive such support.

At the July announcement, the Hon. Marci Ien, federal Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister, joined the Hon. Nahanni Fontaine, provincial Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equity, to announce the combined funding — $6.2 million in federal support, and $6.35 million from the province through Year Two of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.

“We are honoured to be a part of this announcement and receive support for our tuition-free Shelter Support Worker micro-credential,” said Christine Watson, RRC Polytech’s Vice-President, Academic. “This training prepares current and future shelter workers to support those in need of refuge from difficult and sometimes dangerous situations. RRC Polytech is proud to be a partner in creating a safer Manitoba for all.”

The micro-credential program is the first of its kind in Manitoba and was designed with industry partners to address skill gaps, meet community needs and improve staffing levels and delivery service in homeless and family violence shelters across the province.

Last year, RRC Polytech celebrated its first cohort of 23 students successfully completing the program and next month will host a ceremony for an additional 19 who will complete the second cohort.

The micro-credential was developed in partnership with RRC Polytech, Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters (MAWS) and Manitoba’s family violence and homeless shelters. The program aims to provide essential skills and knowledge for individuals involved in or aspiring to work in homeless and family and gender-based violence shelters.

The program trains existing and potential workers, provides individuals with specific knowledge and education, and improves staffing levels and service delivery. It also provides individuals with a chance to apply their knowledge through a practicum.

The bilateral funding agreement is part of the second year of a comprehensive 10-year National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which aims to create a Canada free of GBV and provide support to victims, survivors and their families across the country.

Supported initiatives — like the Shelter Support Worker micro-credential — align with five pillars: supports for survivors and their families, prevention, responsive justice system, implementing Indigenous-led approaches, and social infrastructure and enabling environment.

“To work towards a future free from gender-based violence, our government is supporting community-driven actions in Manitoba,” said Ien in a joint press release. “By investing over $6.2 million in 2024-25, we are empowering Manitoban organizations to lead the way forward in preventing and addressing gender-based violence. Together with the Manitoba government, we are implementing the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence to ensure safety, support and justice for all.”

“We need to put a stop to gender-based violence in our homes and communities, and make sure survivors have the supports they need,” said Fontaine in the release. “We are taking action to ensure there are more supports for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, working with communities to break cycles of violence, and supporting Indigenous-led and community-informed approaches to address gender-based violence across Manitoba.”

Learn more about RRC Polytech’s Shelter Support Worker micro-credential.

As part of National Philanthropy Day celebrations, longtime RRC Polytech donors Walter and Maria Schroeder are being recognized for supporting organizations, institutions and individuals — in Manitoba and throughout Canada — with the 2023 Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Manitoba Outstanding Philanthropist Award.

RRC Polytech and the University of Manitoba co-nominated the duo — founders of The Schroeder Foundation, a Canadian charitable organization — in recognition of their dedication to Winnipeg youth.

“Walter and Maria Schroeder’s work has truly been transformative, and today RRC Polytech is so proud to celebrate their contributions to our community as Manitoba’s 2023 Outstanding Philanthropists,” says RRC Polytech president Fred Meier.

“The Schroeder Foundation has awarded hundreds of full post-secondary scholarships to institutions in Winnipeg — including more than 180 to RRC Polytech — which include tuition, books and wrap-around supports.

“Schroeder Foundation students now also have the opportunity to participate in RRC Polytech’s Transition to College program, which helps them start their programs with the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed on day one.”

Every year, the Schroeder Foundation donates millions of dollars to organizations, with a focus on improving health care, providing economic education, and empowering youth and Indigenous communities across the country. The Foundation currently invests more than $3 million annually in Winnipeg alone.

“Supporting RRC Polytech has always been important to us, because of the many useful trades and related activities it provides for students,” says Walter Schroeder.

“It’s an ideal institution for people to pursue one of the most important things they can do in life, which is to use education as a means of overcoming financial barriers. RRC Polytech is a top-notch institution that is ideally suited to do this, which is one of the reasons we chose it in our endeavours to provide scholarships and bursaries.”

RRC Polytech previously honoured the Schroeders with an Honorary Bachelor of Education degree in October 2022, in recognition of their dedication to removing barriers to education for Manitoba youth.

“Partnerships and donor support are key to our success at RRC Polytech,” says Meier. “Walter and Maria Schroeder are the embodiment of this support, as they see the value in investing today to create a better and brighter tomorrow — for students and our community.”

The Schroeders received their award this afternoon at the Manitoba Philanthropy Awards, a National Philanthropy Day celebration recognizing outstanding charitable work throughout the province.

As Manitoba continues to grow, there’s no question that the demand for skilled tradespeople is as high as its ever been.

According to the province’s labour gap statistics, trades such as automotive service technicians, carpenters, electricians and construction labourers are some of the most in-need career paths over the next five years.

Trades, though, can be a male-dominated space. According to a 2020 study by BuildForce Canada, just five per cent of the 1.1 million trades people in Canada identify as female. While this is a significant increase from where the industry was 10 years ago (3.7 per cent in 2008), it shows just how important equal representation and creating space is when it comes to young women entering trades.

Enter the Girls Exploring Trades and Technology camp, or GETT. Started by RRC Polytech in 1999, GETT is a summer camp at the College’s Notre Dame Campus where instructors and staff help introduce young girls aged 12 to 14 to a variety of trades — free of charge.

“The girls get exposure to a whole lot of different non-traditional career options for them,” says Christina Lambert, who has been running the camps since 2006.

In a whirlwind four days, camp participants are introduced to plumbing, woodworking, cabinetmaking, welding, robotics, transportation, bricklaying, and more. At the end of their camp experience, each participant brings home a project made using experience earned in the camp: a desk lamp built with iron pipe.

Reaching girls in their tweens and teens is critical for starting their path into a trades career, Lambert emphasizes. That’s because when they enter high school, they’ll need to select courses that set them up for success in vocational training or at a polytechnic, depending on where they choose to go.

“At that age, they start deciding what kind of classes they want to take in high school, and we want to impress upon them the importance of math and science,” she says. “When we started running the camps, we were finding that young women weren’t too excited about math and science — so we make these camps exciting and hopefully open different doors for them. There’s been a fantastic response.”

GETT was revamped in 2019 to give more of an introduction across trades, with 32 spots available for young girls to participate across two weeks. Lambert says the College does everything possible to match participants with female-identifying instructors as well, so that a role-model relationship could potentially bloom.

The free aspect of the camps is also critical, because it means young girls of any means can take part and see their future in trades.

“Our camp is totally free because we don’t want to exclude those students who may not be able to afford to come to camp,” says Lambert. “We are adamant on this, simply because we want students from different financial backgrounds.”

The success of GETT can be seen when campers return to the RRC Polytech campus as high school graduates, entering a trades program that will kickstart their career.

“I’ve been stopped in the hallways by students who’ve returned and taken a trades program, and they’ll ask, ‘Do you remember me?’” laughs Lambert.

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t — there are so many campers over the years! — but it’s so rewarding to see and hear that. Any time you can introduce trades training to students at a young age, it’s a benefit.”

Manitoba’s trades industry sees the benefit too, with many reps becoming sponsors of GETT to encourage new projects and ensure — even at these introductory levels of learning — that girls can see where the industry is at today.

“Industry needs people and they’re always happy to help us out,” says Lambert.

In the future, it’s hoped that GETT can expand its 32 spots slightly so more girls can participate — this past year, the camp received 140 total applications. By returning to the drawing board every year, the camps can also ensure they’re right on the cutting edge.

“We go back to our instructors and ask what we can add to vary the experience. A couple years ago, we added bricklaying, as an example. Every year, we try to vary it so it’s not always the same.”

Profile by John Gaudes (Creative Communications, 2012)