The Northeastern Ontario Construction Association (NOCA) has kicked off a bursary program aimed at helping women in the region pursue careers in the skilled trades.

The initiative is being run by the association’s Women in Construction Committee. The group is offering two bursaries worth $2,000 each for women who are currently enrolled in trades programs, who are Northern Ontario residents, and who have their high-school or equivalent diplomas.

Pictured are last year's bursary recipients.

NOCA formed its Women in Construction Committee in 2022 to provide support for women across the construction sector.

Committee chair Joan Strawn, who also serves as a health and safety coordinator with Damisona, says the bursary program is an important element of fulling the group’s mission statement.

“By uniting our voices, knowledge, resources and passions, we strive to support, educate and mentor women in all aspects of the construction industry and trades.”

The deadline to apply to the program is December 1.