Jamie McMillan, founder of KickAss Careers, was one of several recipients of the YWCA Hamilton’s 2019 Women of Distinction Awards and although she was grateful for the recognition, the highlight of the evening was meeting a young fan.
“Everything about that night was amazing but having a young woman from a school approach me and want to take a picture with me topped the cake,” she explained.
“She said she wanted to take a picture with me because I had spoken at an event that she was at a few days earlier and she was very inspired by my presentation. It proves to me that the work I do to promote skilled trades is effective and the message is being well received, especially by young women.”
The awards, presented last month at the Hamilton Convention Centre, recognize trailblazing Hamilton, Ont. women who have excelled in their fields and outstanding workplaces whose policies and practices promote women’s leadership and equal advancement opportunities, indicates the YWCA Hamilton’s website.
McMillan, who is also an ironworker/boilermaker, was recognized in the Science, Technology and Trades Category. Through KickAss Careers, McMillan educates, engages and encourages youth to consider careers in the mechanical, industrial, technology and construction sectors.
“I didn’t think that I would actually win because I was up against some pretty academic-type people. I didn’t prepare a speech but when they called my name from the stage it was a huge honour,” McMillan said. “I got goose bumps. It was very emotional. It’s quite a prestigious honour to win this award so it was a great feeling.”
In addition to her school outreach, McMillan also sits on various boards and committees including the YWCA Equitable Pathways to Technical Fields and the Skilled Trades Advisory Committee. She also volunteers her time with Skills Ontario.
“I’m very passionate in my work with youth and promoting skilled trades and promoting alternate pathways, so I work with a lot of schools and educators,” said McMillan. “My role is to try and educate students that if they are not academic and they are not the type of learners that want to go onto college or university…there are other options and pathways that include apprenticeship.”
“I’m trying to help recruit and retain the future workforce because we have a huge gap in the industry and a shortage of skilled labour workers. We need to fill that gap.”
McMillan was nominated by last year’s award winner, Kathy Lerette, senior vice-president of business transformation at Alectra Utilities. She found out about the nomination while she was at the airport during some recent travel.
“I was in airport security and it was an emotional moment because I was surprised that I was nominated and by such a prestigious woman in the community,” said McMillan.
Accepting the award was an “epic moment,” McMillan stated, adding she got two standing ovations. She dedicated the award to her mother who passed away in 2012.
“The skilled trades actually changed my life and saved me probably from going down a very different pathway,” she recalled saying in her acceptance speech.
“I was lost in school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I struggled academically to get by and no one told me in shop class, because those were my highest marks, this is something you need to do.
“Everybody just said you have to go to college or university so I dropped out of high school because I had no interest in pursuing a career that meant I had to take an academic pathway. I spend a lot of time now reaching out to youth and educating them about those opportunities so that they know that exists.”
Another industry-related award presented that evening was the YWCA award for outstanding workplace, which was presented to ArcelorMittal Dofasco.
Over its 106-year history the company has been an employer that has displayed leadership and innovation through an engaging workplace, indicates a release.
The company is committed to the work/life balance of its employees and supports them with many initiatives including health and wellness programs, onsite fitness facilities, recreational facilities, leisure programs, counselling and assistance services, and more.
Four of ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s top 10 senior management positions are held by women and an employee-led Diversity and Inclusion Group develops strategies to increase the number of women in advanced manufacturing and non-traditional careers, the release states.
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