The UBC celebrated a significant milestone in its continuing mission to support women in the trades with the launch of the Sisters in the Brotherhood Capacity Building Project (SIBCAP), a new program designed to create accessible pathways for women entering the construction industry, while providing critical supports to ensure their success. The launch event, held at the UBC Built Training Centre in Vaughan on January 15th, marked a step forward in advancing opportunities for women in construction.
As a part of the project, SIBCAP will help grow the UBC’s 31 existing SIB committees and will establish 12 new SIB committees across Canada. Additionally, this project will develop a Resource Network to help Sisters find and access support services to address their unique needs as women in the trades and create a reporting system designed to provide a safe and secure space to report workplace harassment without fear of repercussions or reprisals.
The SIBCAP launch event welcomed the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth of Canada, along with local Members of Parliament, Francesco Sorbara and Lisa Hepfner, who also serves as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. They had the chance to tour the facility, observe training in action, and hear stories from SIB members in the CRC and MRC.
During the announcement, remarks were given by Andrea Benavides, a second-term apprentice with Local 27, and Rokhaya Gueye, Stakeholder Relations for the CRC and Ontario SIB Chair. They shared their experiences as tradeswomen and highlighted the transformative impact of programs like SIBCAP. All three elected officials also spoke, commending SIB and the UBC’s efforts to help women reach their full potential. MP Sorbara summed up the event’s significance by stating, “A better Canada… that’s what this event represents… that’s what the Carpenters’ [Union] represents.”
SIBCAP is funded in part by the Government of Canada with an investment of $563,319 through Women and Gender Equality Canada’s Women’s Program. Along with an in-kind contribution from the Carpenters’ Regional Council, the total budget is $692,786 over the 20-month duration of the project.
The UBC is proud of its legacy of supporting women in the trades. With the launch of SIBCAP, made possible by support from the Federal Government, SIB is poised to create even greater opportunities for women to join the construction industry and achieve long-term success.
This project has been funded in part by Women and Gender Equality Canada.
