Investing in tomorrow’s leaders

Leaders in Trades (LIT) training program for equity priority tradespeople of all genders.

As of November 1st, 2023, BCCWITT will be pausing intakes into our Leaders in Trades program.
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The Leaders in Trades (LIT) program (formerly the Regional Representative Program Leadership Training) is an initiative of the BCCWITT and SkilledTradesBC.

The goal of the Leaders in Trades program is to increase the number of tradespeople from equity priority groups (Indigenous, racialized people, 2SLGBTIAQ+, immigrants, people with disabilities, women) in leadership positions as both volunteers and staff within the skilled trades sector in British Columbia. Participants actively represent themselves, their trades, their regions, their identities, and their communities.

This community-based program provides a fun, safe and challenging experience for successful applicants to:

  • Build leadership skills.
  • Learn about barriers and resources for underrepresented groups in trades.
  • Develop a peer mentorship network.
  • Make a difference in the future of trades in BC.

Throughout 2021-2024, there will be multiple cohorts of training for tradespeople who are Indigenous, racialized people, 2SLGBTIAQ+, immigrants, people with disabilities, or women.

The initial in-person Core Training will bring together a select group of 14 to 18 successful applicants from around the province, with all course costs, accommodation, food, and travel fully funded. Scholarships for wage subsidies are available.

After the Core Training, LIT participants will be expected to continue to engage with BCCWITT and SkilledTradesBC, by taking part in volunteer outreach activities, further training sessions, peer mentoring, and consultations as their schedules permit.

Each applicant must be:

  • A full-time resident of British Columbia, and
  • An apprentice or journey in a trade managed by SkilledTradesBC, and
  • EITHER a woman in a SkilledTradesBC trade where women less than 25% of apprentices OR an Indigenous person, 2SLGBTIAQ+ person, immigrant, or person with a disability, or racialized person of any gender in any SkilledTradesBC trade and
  • Actively seeking to become more involved in their trades communities within the next 2 years, and
  • Willing to make a commitment to BCCWITT and SkilledTradesBC to take part in volunteer and outreach initiatives, and
  • Not already in a substantial leadership role in the trades community.

There are limited spaces available and not all applicants will be accepted.

If you have any questions, please email info@bccwitt.ca.

I can’t put into words how valuable this was. For me, (…) who has been around for 20+ years, I’ve taken a lot of training. This is the first time in a very long time where every single day I truly learned something new. I feel like I am a better person after this training.

It was amazing connecting with people who had common experiences. I loved that they also had a range of experiences, with different categories of work and locations throughout the province. I loved the inclusive and straight forward conversations. I walked away feeling energized and capable.

Honestly I felt like I found others like me in a trade setting. It helped me not feel so isolated and encouraged me to bring more of myself to my job. With that I feel more empowered and confident to take on leadership roles.

The experience was really powerful for me. To be in a room full of people who have experienced many of the same challenges I have felt refreshing, and like I wasn’t alone in this particular struggle. It taught me the importance of visibility and the power of speaking up for what’s right (…) It taught me the importance of community and being someone that the next generation can come to.