News Release Archive
EDUCATION/CULTURE--WOMEN OF THE PAST-ROLE MODELS FOR THE FUTURE
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The Nova Scotia Girls Exploring Trades and Technology (GETT) Camp
Program today honored students who took part the recent Canadian
Women in Trades and Technology essay contest.
The contest was open to all Nova Scotia students (male and
female) in grades six, seven and eight, with the first place
prize going to Jennifer DeViller, Chebucto Heights School,
Halifax. Second place went to Michelle Cox, Shelburne Regional
High School, and third place to Eileen Redmond, Highland Park
School, Halifax. The girls will receive $200, $175, and $125 in
cash and prizes respectively.
Education and Culture Minister John MacEachern said GETT's
efforts is helping girls realize that they too have a place in
the area of trades and technology. "Skills that require knowledge
of math and science are not gender specific. GETT helps girls
understand the importance of math and science skills in the
workplace of today, providing them with insight into the types of
careers and opportunities that can be open to them," he said.
Jennifer DeViller's first-place essay focused on Canadian women's
work in trades and technology since World War I, including an
interview with her grandmother, Flo MacKenzie, who worked as a
telegraph operator for the Canadian National Telegraph during
World War II. In her essay, Jennifer said, "Women have gained a
wider vision of the future [since World War I], and a greater
sense of control over it."
The second-place essay highlighted the life and career
achievements of Roberta Bondar, a Canadian astronaut, and her
influence on women around the world. "Many Canadian women have
left something positive for young women to look up to for
generations to come, and I am very proud to say that I am a young
Canadian woman," said Michelle.
Eileen Redmond, in her third-place essay, recognized that there
are few women role models teaching science and math courses, but
does not let this discourage her because of the positive
influence of her parents, who encourage her to choose the career
she desires. Eileen says, "As a young Canadian woman interested
in trades and technology, I am doing what I like because I am the
one who should decide my future, not the past or anyone else."
This is the first year that the GETT Camp Program has been
available in Nova Scotia. The program is a week-long, day-camp
program, that gives girls in grades six, seven and eight an
opportunity to visit work sites featuring modern technology, and
meet women working in trades and technology where math and
sciences are key components in their jobs. The girls also get to
design, build, and race go-carts as a practical, hands-on
application of these courses.
Scheduled to begin July 15, GETT offers three camps in the
Halifax area, as well as one camp in Eskasoni. Each camp has
spaces for 10 female students and tomorrow GETT will draw the
names of the campers from close to 70 applicants.
The GETT camp program has met with great success in seven other
provinces, and in Nova Scotia has been developed by the
apprenticeship training division of the Department of Education
and Culture, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Women in Trades
and Technology Association. Sponsors for this program are the
Department of Education and Culture, the Nova Scotia Community
College (Halifax Campus), the provincial Department of Human
Resources, the Ship Repair Machinists and Mechanics Union
(Halifax Dockyard), Imperial Oil Charitable Foundation, Pratt and
Whitney Canada, and the Discovery Centre.
The winning essayists were presented with their prizes by Marilyn
Gaudet, deputy minister of Education and Culture, and GETT
program developers.
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Contact: Leslee Nicholson 902-424-5190
Brenda Daniels 902-883-7061
Kelly Thomas 902-424-5190
trp June 07, 1996 - 2:00 p.m.
