the Sisterhood Special

Every tradesperson has a story that starts with, “I didn’t say anything because that’s just how it is.” We learn early in our careers that there’s a quiet list of “acceptable” behaviours on the job site - things everyone sees, everyone hates, and everyone silently agrees to ignore. And while the industry keeps talking about recruitment, retention, and the future of the trades, we’re losing more talent to the things we pretend not to notice than to anything else. The truth is

Women in Construction Week matters. Not because women in construction only exist for one week.Not because we need a themed logo or a social post. But because visibility changes outcomes. I’ve said this before and I’ll keep saying it: when a woman walks onto a jobsite, she’s not just doing her job. She’s being watched by the next apprentice, by leadership, by young girls who don’t even know construction is an option yet. And if we don’t intentionally highlight women this week,

For a long time, I thought the goal was to “get everything right”. No mistakes. No missteps. No sign that I was still figuring things out. It felt responsible. Professional. Strong. But here’s the truth I had to learn (sometimes the hard way): Perfectionism isn’t about getting better - it’s about never feeling “good enough”.Growth is the opposite. Growth says, “I’m allowed to learn”. And those two mindsets lead to completely different lives. Perfectionism is fear wearing a di

For decades, women in the skilled trades have been told directly and indirectly, that there’s only room for a few of us at the table. One woman per crew. One woman per company. One woman per industry spotlight. Scarcity thinking didn’t start with us, but it’s something many tradeswomen have been forced to survive inside of. Competition became a coping mechanism. If you’re the only  woman in the shop, on the site, or in the classroom, standing out can feel like self‑preservati

Confidence is something that has to be built from within. No one else can hand it to you - but the right people, opportunities, and environments can help you discover it. Nearly half of young women report lacking confidence during adolescence, often because of social pressure and circumstances. I was absolutely one of them. For years, I struggled with self-doubt. It took time, growth, and support to reach a place where I now feel confident - not only in who I am, but in the c

How Schools Can Introduce the Trades as Equal Options to College Walk into most high schools today, and you’ll see a familiar script: SAT prep, college fairs, guidance counselors pushing four-year degrees as the standard of success. And while higher education can be the right choice for many, there’s a silent disservice happening in the process - the trades are still  treated as a backup plan. That framing doesn’t just hurt students who could thrive in a hands-on career; it a

I've been thinking about this a lot lately: tradeswomen aren't just proving we can do the job, we're straight up changing what people think the job looks like. Because let's be real here - there are folks out there who hear “pipefitter”, “electrician”, “ironworker”, and their brain auto-fills a picture of some big dude with a beard and a pinch of chew in his lip. I'm not even mad at that picture though, because that's what we've been shown since, forever now, it seems like. B

The skilled trades build the backbone of our world. From electricians and welders to machinists, carpenters, linemen, and technicians, tradespeople keep communities running. Often under pressure, tight deadlines, and physically demanding conditions. Yet for all the strength, resilience, and pride associated with trade work, mental health remains one of the most overlooked challenges in the industry. The Silent Strain Behind the Work The trades are demanding by nature. Long ho

When it comes to building a solid future, young people today are looking for more than just a job. They want stability, fair pay, growth opportunities, and a career path that feels meaningful. Union apprenticeships check all those boxes, and more! Earn While You Learn Union apprenticeships give young workers the chance to learn a skilled trade while also earning a paycheck. Instead of racking up college debt, apprentices earn while they learn - combining classroom knowledge w

Every tradesperson has a story that starts with, “I didn’t say anything because that’s just how it is.” We learn early in our careers that there’s a quiet list of “acceptable” behaviors on the jobsite - things everyone sees, everyone hates, and everyone silently agrees to ignore. And while the industry keeps talking about recruitment, retention, and the future of the trades, we’re losing more talent to the things we pretend not to notice than to anything else. The truth is si

For decades, there’s been a stigma surrounding blue collar jobs - a lingering misconception that working with your hands somehow means you’ve settled for less. Trade schools were seen as backup plans . Career counselors pushed college degrees as the only path to success. Parents encouraged office jobs over tool belts, and society equated a suit and tie with achievement. But that mindset is changing, fast. Across the nation, a new generation is rejecting outdated stereotypes a

What started as an “on-a-whim” decision to create a group chat on Snapchat for tradeswomen to connect has now turned into the Sisterhood of Trades – a swift growing project that is making its own impact on the history of tradeswomen in the modern world. Although the Sisterhood is still in the beginning stages, it's already proven to leave its mark on many women who have felt invisible or alone in this industry. I have no doubt that when most of us hear the phrase “blue collar

At Sisterhood of Trades, we believe in empowering and connecting the next generation of tradeswomen and tradesmen worldwide. Our mission is to advocate for women, close the skills gap, elevate blue-collar excellence, and show the world that trades are not just jobs, they are careers that build communities, families, and the future. Governments all over the world are investing in growth and with that comes the need to build. New schools, businesses, bridges, roads, and power p

Remembering Amber Czech and Outi Hicks In the early morning of a regular work day, a young welder, Amber Czech, showed up to build her future. At just 20 years old, she had completed a 10-month welding program and stepped into the trades with skill, ambition, and pride. Then, in a devastating turn of events, was brutally murdered by a male coworker on the job site.  Amber’s death is heartbreaking - but to our community, it must do far more than evoke sorrow, it must drive cha

Education serves as a foundation for every journey in life, offering us essential skills, broad knowledge, and critical thinking abilities. These tools enable individuals to access better opportunities, enhance their quality of life, and foster both personal and professional development.  Promoting trades education within high schools brings a range of advantages. Not every student is inclined toward or interested in pursuing a college education. Not all students thrive in tr

Domestic violence doesn’t stay at home. It follows people into their jobs, their job sites, their crews, and their communities - and for a long time, we’ve pretended it doesn’t. In the trades, where our work is built on safety, teamwork, and trust, we cannot afford to ignore the reality that violence at home directly impacts safety at work. And yet, we do. Every day. For many tradeswomen, including myself, domestic violence isn’t an abstract concept - it’s something we’ve liv

Written by Brooke Laing Each year on November 14th, the world observes World Diabetes Day, marking the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, the Canadian physician who discovered insulin. Established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the day serves as a global reminder of the growing impact of diabetes – and the collective need for awareness, access, and advocacy. This year’s campaign centers on access to care, educat

For a long time, I waited for an invitation. An invitation to the table, to be noticed, the one where decisions were made, where ideas were heard, and where people who looked nothing like me seemed to belong without question. But the invitation never came. At first, I thought maybe I wasn’t ready yet, I’m new to the industry, maybe I had to earn it. Maybe I need to prove myself more. So I worked harder, learned more, showed up early, researched as much as I could, and did eve

Featuring Tradespeople who are Building Skills and Creating Content How Young Tradespeople Are Using Social Media to Reshape the Perception of Skilled Labor Scroll through TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts and you’ll see it…short clips of welders laying down a perfect bead, carpenters transforming raw wood into works of art, electricians breaking down complex wiring systems in plain language. What once lived in shop floors, garages, and job sites is now finding a global st

Ahhh, the age-old question. How do we get more young people interested in the trades? We all know our industry needs more machinists, welders, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and electricians - we see the statistics almost every week on LinkedIn...but are we actively doing anything to change that? Are the people who are in power...doing anything to change that? And in case you haven't seen the statistics, I've done some research: The American Welding Society  (AWS) projects about