The Industry Training Authority (ITA) has announced that Lisa Langevin has been hired as director of women in trades, a newly created role to ensure that more women see the trades as a viable career and professional pathway.
Prior to her new role at ITA, Langevin was assistant business manager for Local 213 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). She holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Simon Fraser University and is a Red Seal electrician.
“Lisa Langevin is a champion for change and a role model who has worked hard to encourage and empower women to reach their goals by pursuing and advancing in hands-on, good-paying, and rewarding careers in the skilled trades,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “I’d like to congratulate her on her new role and look forward to working with her and ITA to move the dial and open doors, so everyone has the opportunity to be part of building the best B.C.”
Langevin participated in the Women in Trades labour market project to better understand and identify the barriers women in B.C. encounter entering skilled trades as well as advancing in their trades careers. She was one of the founders of the BC Tradeswomen Society and currently sits on the board of governors for the BC Centre for Women in the Trades.
“ITA has a critical focus on bringing more women into trades professions, particularly in under-represented trades, and Lisa will bring great insight through her experience in the trades industry in B.C. and her previous role as an ITA board director,” said Shelley Gray, CEO of ITA. “She’s well-positioned to expand our understanding of the barriers women face and lead a cultural change within B.C.’s trades training system.”
In her new role, Langevin will be working with a variety of stakeholders and industry partners to identify, understand, and disrupt societal and program-related barriers that may prevent women from viewing trades as a primary career choice.
“Both industry and society are ready to move towards equity in employment, and I’m excited to help seat the ITA in a leadership role moving forward towards equality,” said Langevin. “Women’s equal participation in the trades benefits not only those women choosing this career but also industry who are struggling to find a skilled workforce large enough for the upcoming demands.”
There will be nearly 71,000 job openings expected in the trades in B.C. from now to 2028, providing significant opportunities for women. Yet, despite making up half of the population and workforce, women are under-represented in traditionally male-dominated skilled trades — from carpentry and plumbing to masonry and iron work.
