Stephanie B. Martell chose to completely change her career. After ten years in animal health, she turned to metallurgy, a traditionally male field.
The 33-year-old woman from the south coast of Trois-Rivières was part of the first all-female cohort of short-term paid vocational training in the operation of production equipment, culminating in an internship at the Beconcore Aluminum Smelter (ABI).
Last winter I had a steady job in the veterinary field for the past 13 years
Stephanie B. Martell says. I felt a bit stagnant. “Am I making a career change?” A famous question came up.
Stephanie B. Martell chose metallurgy to turn her professional life around.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean-Francois Fortier
During her questions, about fifteen other participants took the opportunity to turn to metallurgy in the new program.
I decided to join an exclusively women's group for a basic course in metallurgy, which was completely different from the veterinary field.
Her notes. This is an interesting area. There are many things made of aluminum: phones, car parts, cans we drink from. It is a very simple process that allows you to do great things.
Stephanie was one of seven women hired to join the ranksABI At the end of the training, the aim is to attract more women to the sector. Currently, women workers constitute only 8% of the workforce in this sector.
Integrating the female workforce into the metallurgy sector has always been a challenge, as it has traditionally been a male-dominated sector
Identifies the communications advisor ofABIIrina Gato. But the importance of diversity in this environment is also proven.
Reporting by Eugenie Laurente
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean-Francois Fortier
To increase the presence of women in metallurgy, Beconcore Smelter has set bold targets: 20% of employees recruited annually are women. A difficult goal to achieve, but not impossible, believes Irina Gato.
A necessary boost
The Quebec Metallurgy Sectoral Labor Committee (CSMO-Métallurgie) oversees the program in collaborationABI. A grant from the provincial government pays a stipend for women who choose to immerse.
This financial incentive went a long way in facilitating Stephanie B. Martell's career change.
If it wasn't for the grant to allow us to do this test, I wouldn't be able to do it. The theoretical course was paid, my internship this summer was paid, and then I was hired as a full-time employee.
Participants in the program were supported by the Le Pont Women's Employment Center. According to its general director, Annie Brassard, support work is essential. We are really concerned about the integration of women in traditional and non-traditional environments.
She directs immediately. However, in a non-traditional environment, there are still some really important issues like retaining women workers.
For Bécancour Aluminum Works, the results of this new training are very positive. When workers come here, they already have a good background after training
Irina Gato says. And we notice that they have a spirit of mutual aid.
Training for production equipment operators returns and a second cohort of recruitment is underway. Le Pont will once again accompany the participants throughout the program.
With information from Eugénie Larente
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