Ontario Construction News staff writer
In celebration of International Women’s Day last week, the Centre for Construction & Engineering Technologies (CCET) at George Brown College has established a new scholarship to support female students studying full-time in construction, skilled trades or engineering programs.
Starting in the current academic year, $1000 will be granted annually to two female students who demonstrate “a passion for the field through in-class work, various projects, and research.”
“This scholarship will promote opportunities for women and support female students in programs at the Centre for Construction & Engineering Technologies,” said Dean of Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies Dr. Adel Esayed.
“It will positively impact the next generation of female professionals entering the industry, especially at a time when Canada is facing a growing labour shortage and a long economic recovery from the pandemic.”
The Angelo DelZotto School of Construction Management at George Brown’s Casa Loma campus offers eight programs, including Ontario’s only four-year degree program in construction management – developed in consultation with industry partners to reflect current technologies.
The school promotes hands-on education “delivering high-quality graduates with the skills employers want.”
With women largely underrepresented in construction, skilled trades and engineering fields, the scholarship will help support students interested in careers the industry and will emphasize growing opportunities available to women after graduation.
Latifa Karimi, project coordinator with PCL Construction, is a 2016 graduate of the Honours Bachelor of Technology (Construction Management) program,
“I had two part-time jobs while perusing my degree full-time at GBC. This scholarship goes a long way, especially for someone who is just entering the job market at the beginning of their career,” she said.
“It is important to encourage women to join the construction and skilled programs, and to support them to stay and complete their education in a male-dominated field.”