Thoughts on Conference Attendance: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth and Collaboration

Thoughts on Conference Attendance: Unlocking Opportunities for Growth and Collaboration

Have you ever experienced that exhilarating feeling of being overwhelmed with information, connections, and new ideas at a conference? I'm talking about that positive kind of overwhelm, where like-minded professionals come together to discuss issues, topics, and ideas that truly matter in your field of employment. Over the years, I've learned to be selective about the conferences I attend, finding a delicate balance between the work that needs to be done, costs, and the constant need for personal and professional development.

One conference that holds a special place in my heart is the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum's annual event. If you're curious to learn more, click here. As a proud member of this organization, I have often relied on their research and best practices to guide my work both at Build a Dream and in my professional field. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is comprised of passionate experts who deeply care about their work and the impact they make. Together, they have created a global community of like-minded partners who are paving the way to support the skilled trades in Canada.

In September 2023, I had the privilege of attending their Global Practices Forum in Ottawa. It was during this conference that I learned about a significant challenge faced by apprentices – the time off they must take to complete their studies. Apprentices have to go on Employment Insurance (EI) for 6-8 weeks, and for those of us who have been on the system before, we know it takes a few weeks to receive our first payment. This decision is incredibly difficult for individuals in today's economic landscape. Most of us are just one paycheck away from financial struggle, so giving up 4-5 steady paychecks is not taken lightly.

Immediately, I recognized that this was an issue we could address with the funding we received from UTIP. We swiftly made changes to our application, providing clear justification on how this would lead to greater retention in apprenticeship, supporting completion rates, and ensuring that our workforce does not have to make a difficult, life-changing sacrifice. The difference this change can make is quite significant – it's a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain. Obtaining a Red Seal certification in a trade not only increases your salary but also allows you to train new apprentices, gives you a greater sense of purpose, and makes you highly marketable. Imagine if employers, government entities, and communities began to see the importance of increasing apprentices' wages to encourage them to complete their programs. The shortage of certified journey persons would undoubtedly decrease.

This connection, this "aha" moment, would not have been possible if I hadn't attended the conference. Six months later, I'm thrilled to share that we used that concept to help register 10 women as Industrial Mechanic Millwrights. Upon returning to attend the national conference for tradespeople, I had the opportunity to share the progress and innovative ideas we have launched with fellow attendees, exchanging best practices and creating synergies among our communities.

When it comes to addressing the talent shortage, increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and improving completion rates, we must adopt a collective approach. It's about maximizing and leveraging each other's expertise, knowledge, research, and successful programs. It's an "all hands on deck" situation, where we embrace the contractor mindset and utilize the resources of various organizations, community partners, and professionals to build a stronger, richer, and more diverse workforce.

If you had the chance to attend the conference, I would love to connect and hear about your "aha" moment or any ideas you would like to discuss. After all, we need strong partnerships to ensure that no one gets left behind. Together, let's unlock opportunities for growth and collaboration.