CONTACT US
Get in touch if you want to learn more about…
- accessing peer support, mentorship, training, and volunteering,
- program eligibility, occupational skills training, employment opportunities, and financial supports, or
- how allies can move forward equity and inclusion in the skilled trades!
For general inquires, email info@bccwitt.ca or call 604-812-1966
Or reach out to our staff directly:
KAREN DEARLOVE
Executive Director (she/her) – kldearlove@bccwitt.ca
ALYCIA GUILE
Executive Assistant (she/her) – alycia@bccwitt.ca
TAMMY-LEE HAWKINS
Director of Programs (she/her) – tammy-lee@bccwitt.ca
KT FEHR
Coordinator (they/them) – kt@bccwitt.ca
LINDSAY KEARNS
Coordinator (she/her) – lindsay@bccwitt.ca
KAREN BURROWS
Coordinator (she/her) – kburrows@bccwitt.ca
COLY CHAU
Coordinator (she/her/they/them) – coly@bccwitt.ca
Our mailing address is: BCCWITT c/o BC Federation of Labour, #110-4259 Canada Way, Burnaby, V5G 1H1
OUR STAFF
KAREN DEARLOVE
Executive Director (she/her)
Since completing a PhD in History in 2009, Karen Dearlove has worked in leadership positions in cultural, not for profit and community organizations in Ontario and British Columbia. While pursuing her academic studies Karen worked in a series of hands-on jobs, including surveying, carpentry, concrete finishing, and various positions in the fabrication of architectural grade wood doors such as CNC programming.
An ardent supporter of the labour movement, Karen was instrumental in organizing her previous workplace and served as shop steward for CUPE Local 389. Karen is passionate about education, social justice, Reconciliation, and representation. She is excited to bring her knowledge, skills and experience to create diverse, equitable workplaces and opportunities for women in the skilled trades.
Alycia Guile
Executive Assistant (she/her)
Alycia joined the BC Centre for Women in the Trades in July 2022. She is the acting executive assistant and provides administrative support to all the BCCWITT programs. Prior to joining the BCCWITT team, Alycia worked for a union trades training school in the lower mainland. There, Alycia worked as the student services coordinator, and learned all about the regulatory skilled trades bodies in BC. Alycia is a proud MoveUP member, and works with her union on the Youth Action, Environmental, and Events and Social Planning committees.
Alycia is also working through her Masters in Sustainability at the Harvard Extension School. Once completing her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Resource Management, she knew that she was passionate about sustainability. Alycia continues to find herself drawn into work that is trades-adjacent and hopes to bridge the gap between trades advocacy and sustainability in her future.
Tammy-Lee Hawkins
Director of Programs (she/her)
Tammy-Lee is a Certified Career Development Practitioner with 10+ years of job development and case management experience. She has a strong passion for mentoring and supporting diverse populations in identifying and overcoming challenges that they may be face when achieving their employment goals. As an employment placement specialist Tammy-Lee is experienced in establishing and maintaining ongoing working relationships with employers.
Tammy-Lee is a proud Indigenous woman from the Treaty 2 territory in Manitoba, currently living in Northern BC, the traditional unceded territory of the Lhtako Dene First Nation. She is an advocate who is committed to creating a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion for all tradeswomen in British Columbia.
kt
Coordinator (they/them)
KT the Cabinetmaker joined the BC Centre for Women in the Trades in January 2020 and works as a Coordinator in the Employment and Training Program. KT first entered the trades in 1979, achieving their Red Seal in Benchwork/Joinery and started their own business in 1996 with their niche being architectural designed kitchens. They are passionate about the advancement of women in the trades and are honoured to be a part of the ground-breaking work at BCCWITT.
Lindsay Kearns
Coordinator (she/her)
Lindsay joined the BC Centre for Women in the Trades in December 2019, and her work focuses on outreach, leadership and event coordination for the growing network of tradespeople from underrepresented groups across BC.
Lindsay is a Red Seal journey electrician and a proud IBEW member, queer person, and parent. She has a background in community organizing, urban geography, and food security issues. Prior to embarking on her electrical career, she worked at the University of Victoria as the knowledge mobilization coordinator for a five-year research project into the social economy. Lindsay is a settler who grew up in Toronto and has made her home on unceded lək̓ʷəŋən land in Victoria since 2001. She is the vice-chair of the Board of Governors for Camosun College, serves as the recording secretary for the Victoria Unit of IBEW Local 230, and sits on the JEDI Committee of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum (CAF-FCA).
Karen Burrows
Coordinator (she/her)
When Karen started out in the Employment Service Industry, she found her passion. Nothing gives her more joy then to go to work and have the privilege of supporting individuals with their career goals and seeing them reach those goals. Karen is a Certified Career Development Practitioner with over 10 years in the employment field. Most recently she worked at a high school where she was able to assist students as they began their “After High School Life”.
She is dedicated to understanding her client’s needs and takes pride in finding the best possible solution for each client. In her spare time, you can find her on the golf course or doing a DIY in her garage.
Coly Chau
Coordinator (she/her/they/them)
Coly strives to learn, work and organize alongside others towards liberatory futures. They have experience supporting equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racist, accessibility and social justice initiatives at the grassroots, community, non-profit and public-sector levels. This includes alongside diverse tradespeople, racialized youth and workers, queer and trans communities, women, people with disabilities, newcomers, seniors and various learners. She holds a Master of Education in Social Justice Education.
Coly respectfully acknowledges the unceded, ancestral and traditional territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people, where she currently resides and works. As a racialized immigrant settler to Turtle Island, their commitment to social justice and liberation is deeply rooted in their learning to be a better guest on these territories.