A Trusted Voice for Women

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Jacqueline Andersen, the director of stakeholder relations with the non-profit society. “Women are between four and six per cent of the field-level trades professions. And so, this conversation needs to continue, we need our partners to continue it, we need everyone to share it and we want this conversation to not stop and to be impactful.”

To see the full article click here.

Women Building Futures are encouraging women to enter the trades. At around 5 percent of field-level trades professions, WBF is hoping a new ad campaign entitled 'You Got This' will help change minds about women in trades. Jacqueline Andersen of Women Building Futures joins Danielle Smith to discuss why women should get into trades.

To hear the full interview, click here.

 If being perfect is the measure of success, Women Building Futures’ (WBF) can hold its head high after a 100% graduation rate from its inaugural Class 1 driving program.

Coming from various employment backgrounds, many from what would be described as non-traditional female occupations, a recurring theme among the group of graduates was a desire to be on the road and do a job they would be proud of.

To read the full article, click here.

Mass retirements and an upturn in work will create workforce challenges, but opportunities abound if industry can engage the next generation from all potential sources of labour. 

The Canadian construction industry is forecast to lose almost 20 percent of its workforce – close to 250,000 workers to retirement – over the next decade, while estimates based on historical data predict the potential for 216,000 new workers to enter the industry during this same period. This imbalance is sure to create a substantial deficit in the workforce, especially if there’s an upturn in the overall volume of work. So, what’s the industry to do?

To read the full article, click here.

Women Building Futures (WBF) is pleased to announce a new partnership with Enbridge to train and prepare women for careers in the pipeline operations or construction industries. These careers offer women endless opportunities for training and advancement, an outcome that WBF and Enbridge fully support.

To read the full press release, click here. 

To learn more about the program and how to apply, click here.

In an effort to leverage one of the most significantly untapped sources to help alleviate the impending driver shortage, Women Building Futures (WBF) is offering women a chance to take its Professional Class 1 Driver Program.

Click here to read the full article. 



Interested in taking our Professional Class 1 Program? Click here for program details and how to apply. 

Edmonton Construction Association Magazine, Summer 2017 - The construction workforce is aging, and some educational organizations such as Women Building Futures say that to mitigate attrition, industry needs to look to under-represented demographics to take their places.

To read the full article, click here.

Women Building Futures is receiving $384,000 for a three-year project to support the hiring and retention of Indigenous women in the construction, maintenance, and oil and gas sectors. To learn more, click here.


Representatives from WinSETT and WBF with Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women at the announcement on July 19, 2017 at WBF.

A dozen Indigenous women from central Alberta are about to begin a course that could land them jobs in the construction of the multi-billion dollar Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. To read the full article, click here.

While there have been various efforts to attract women into the skilled trades, BuildForce Canada is trying to tackle the task of retaining them once they make the decision to join. To read the full article, click here.

With the recent introduction of a new pilot project in Fort McMurray, Alta. Women Building Futures (WBF) has taken its initial step toward expansion beyond its long-time Edmonton home base. Click here to read the full article.

Women Building Futures (WBF) is pleased to announce the establishment of the WBF Family of Endowed Funds, the first in the organization’s history. The new endowment fund will support WBF in its mission to create positive economic change for women wishing to explore, pursue and/or advance in trade careers.

Click here to read the full Media Release


Quick Facts

• JudyLynn Archer kick-starts WBF Family of Endowed Funds with a personal donation of $100,000.

• North West Refining and Canadian Natural Resources Limited immediately step up to contribute $100,000 each to the new JudyLynn Archer Endowment Fund.

• The fund will remain open for future contributions from industry and beyond.

• The video of the announcement can be seen on YouTube click here to watch.

• Women Building Futures empowers women to become economically prosperous in careers in trades and occupations where women are under-represented.

• Women Building Futures operates the WBF Training and Housing Centre, the first of its kind in Canada.

• Women Building Futures partners with over 300 employers to create diverse, innovative and productive workforces with qualified working women.

• WBF grads experience an average of 132% increase in their income after completing a WBF program.

• Women are 50.7% of the workforce, but only 4-6% of the construction workforce in Canada. Of WBF grads…

    • 92% find work in their field.
    • 83% are registered as apprentices in their first year.
    • 34% are Indigenous women.

Click here to read the full Media Release

Women Building Futures continues to grow with new Professional Class 1 Driver program sponsors!

Quick Facts
• Canada is undergoing a professional driver shortage
• Only three percent of professional drivers in Canada are women
• Women are interested and they can do the job

Edmonton, AB – Over 300 employers choose Women Building Futures (WBF) to help recruit and train women for the transportation, construction, and maintenance industries. In fact, many WBF programs are entirely driven and funded by industry partners. Each year, WBF has been able to add new programs and capacities on the basis of the generous support of industry leaders who want to see their sectors evolve....

Read full announcement here!

Jacqueline Andersen, Acting Industry Relations Director of WBF said she was excited by the government's announcement Monday to invest $1 million to help train apprentices who've found themselves out of work in Alberta's lacklustre economy.. Click here to read the full article.

WBF staffers, Journeyman welder (Amy Charette) and Journeyman carpenter (Chris Roddelt) discuss the changes in PPE for women in the trades over the years.. Click here to read the full article.

Women Building Futures (WBF) and BuildForce speak on bridging the gap in order to attract more women into the trades. To read the full article, Click here.

The Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) and Women Building Futures (WBF) have entered into a partnership to ensure a safer, more productive workplace for women working in the construction industry. Click here to read the full article.

Women Building Futures focuses on driving change with new Class 1 Driver program. Read the full article.

Women Building Futures (WBF) and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project recently entered into a new partnership to recruit, assess and train Indigenous women for safe and productive entry into the pipeline construction field.

Why women are expected to play a bigger role in the field in the coming years. Listen to the report here. 

A partnership was announced Wednesday morning at a gathering of Alberta’s construction leaders that aims to make construction sites safer for women. Click here to read the full article.

WBF and ACSA Partnership promotes a safer and more productive workplace for women. To learn more, click here.

Women Building Futures (WBF) wants it to be equal. Equally capable, equally needed, and one day, equally represented #itsherturn. To learn more about this initiative, click here.