Mélissa Maltais, 43, is a civil engineering and dam safety support technician for Hydro-Québec. We met up with her at the Jean-Lesage generating station, near Baie-Comeau, in Côte-Nord. She told us about her educational and professional background and experience as a woman in a male-dominated sector.

Keely Shay Tekawisahá:wi Paul was raised by her mother and grew up in the Kahnawake territory, surrounded by a large family in a caring community. At 24, the young  Mohawk decided to tackle the challenge of returning to vocational school in a field that has always piqued her interest: construction.

Jérémy Blaser, 39, originally from France, decided to move to Québec. It was by undertaking a vocational training that he was able to discover the job market and establish himself permanently in Québec. He is sharing his successful journey with Compétences Québec. 

Today a carpenter but once a Blue Helmet serving in Bosnia, Heather Lidberg, who trained in the fine arts and then carpentry, traveled throughout the Americas before settling in Rigaud, near Montreal. She has many tales to tell, but they all share a common thread: that of a woman driven by her convictions and her commitment to fighting against prejudice daily.

She made her own way. Although her path was strewn with pitfalls, victories and sometimes questioning, Karine Boucher has finally fulfilled her wish: to work in a construction trade. Winner of the Olympiades québécoises des métiers et des technologies and the Hats Off to You! contest, she is an example of perseverance.

Mélanie Prévost is one of our Tradeswomen Trailblazers, a true leader in the field of plumbing and heating for over twenty years. While she started in plumbing, she then decided to specialize in heating. Clients were expecting the father, but they got the daughter instead. She is now a teacher at the École Polymécanique de Laval and is taking a look back on her journey.

Le métier de frigoriste est un métier offrant d'excellentes perspectives d'emploi. Nicolas Tiberio, 29 ans, propriétaire de l’entreprise SoluRef Inc. à Chicoutimi, discute de son métier avec nous.

Kimberley Pellerin, apprentie de 26 ans, originaire de Sorel-Tracy, a représenté le Québec en compagnie d’une autre compétitrice — une première dans un métier traditionnellement masculin —. Elle a répondu à nos questions sur son métier méconnu.

Jade Niles, 25 ans, élève en briquetage et maçonnerie au Adult Education and Career Training Centre (ACCESS) de Longueuil et apprentie en taille de pierre nous a fait le récit de son choix de carrière et de formation.

Au moment où nous nous entretenons avec Patricia Fréchette, elle vient tout juste de terminer son DEP en Briquetage-maçonnerie au Centre de formation professionnelle des Portages-de-l‘Outaouais (CFPPO).

Grâce à l’initiative de Jovan Mercier, enseignant en charpenterie-menuiserie, les cabanes construites lors des Olympiades québécoises ont toutes été remises à des centres de la petite enfance (CPE) de la région de Québec.

C’est ce choix d’une immigration en région qu’a fait Arnaud Jamin, jeune Français de 28 ans, originaire de Clermont-Ferrand, qui a choisi de se former en charpenterie-menuiserie au CFP Pavillon-de-l’Avenir dans le Bas-Saint-Laurent.