Associate Minister of Women’s Social & Economic Opportunity visits GBC ahead of International Women’s Day

In the lead-up to International Women’s Day, Charmaine Williams, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity, got a firsthand look at how George Brown College (GBC) prepares women for exciting opportunities in the skilled trades. 

Williams visited GBC’s Casa Loma Campus on March 4 to learn about skilled trades programming and efforts to support women entering the field. Joined by GBC President Dr. Gervan Fearon, Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies (CCET) Dean Dr. Adel Esayed, CCET’s Industry Liaison Office Manager JD Oxford, and Welding Techniques program graduate and current CCET employee Lilly Lazare-Greene, Williams toured learning labs and classrooms. 

The visit also included a roundtable discussion with industry experts and students from Fashion TECH, Women Transitioning to Trades and Employment, and carpentry, building renovation and electrical technician programs. 

The industry roundtable participants included GBC grad and Community Partnership Co-ordinator for the Carpenters' Regional Council Rokhaya “Rok” Gueye; GBC grad and Vice-President of Carpenter’s Union Local 27 Chris Campbell; Joanne Bin of the BOLT Foundation; and Esther Penner of YWCA Toronto. 

Learn more about programs at the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies. 

Charmaine Williams visit group shot
Charmaine Williams in a lab with Dean Dr. Adel Esayed
Charmaine Williams with Lilly Lazare-Greene
Rokhaya Gueye in roundtable discussion

 

Land acknowledgement

George Brown College is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and other Indigenous peoples who have lived here over time. We are grateful to share this land as treaty people who learn, work and live in the community with each other.


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