News Release Archive

EDUCATION/CULTURE--THE GETT REVOLUTION BEGINS
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Girls from across the metropolitan area are exploring trades and
technology this week as part of the first-ever Girls Exploring
Trades and Technology Camp Program (GETT NS).

Over the next three weeks, girls in grades six, seven and eight
will design, build and race their own go-carts as part of the
program at the Halifax Campus of the Nova Scotia Community
College.

Participants will work with women technologists, scientists,
engineers, and mathematicians who will emphasize the importance
of maintaining math and science courses and completing high
school. The program also includes field trips to the Halifax
International Airport and to program sponsors Pratt and Whitney
Canada and the Halifax Dockyard.

"The GETT program is a wonderful way to encourage girls to study
math and science and effectively uses role models to show the
wide range of opportunities that exist in trades and technology,"
said Education and Culture Minister Robbie Harrison. "There
really are no limits to the career opportunities available to
women and the GETT program encourages girls to reach for the
stars."

The program was established by the Women In Trades, Technology,
Operations and Blue Collar Work Union (WITT) and has met with
success in seven other provinces across Canada over the past five
years.

In Nova Scotia, the program was developed by the provincial
Apprenticeship Training Division of the Department of Education
and Culture, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Women In Trades
and Technology Union (WITT NS).

GETT gives young girls an opportunity to discover trades while
learning to enjoy experiences that will prepare them for careers
in these areas. Program administrator and WITT NS member Leslee
Nicholson believes the program will help "change attitudes that
still depict trades and technology as gender-inappropriate career
choices for girls."

The GETT Camp Program is designed to involve a wide range of
community, government and corporate agencies. Each camp is free
for participants, made possible through corporate sponsorships.
GETT 1996 has been supported by sponsors such as the Imperial Oil
Charitable Foundation. The foundation's contributions assistant,
Petra Tamme said "Lifelong learning is a valued principle at
Imperial Oil and the company gives support in many ways to
programs that equip young Canadians with business and technical
skills they'll need to prosper in a competitive global economy."

Other sponsors are: Women in Trades and Technology, Nova Scotia,
the Ship Repair Unit Machinist and Mechanics Union, Pratt and
Whitney Canada, the Canadian Tire Association of Stores, Sobeys
Incorporated, the Discovery Centre, the Union of Canadian
Transport Employees, Local 80829, the provincial Apprenticeship
Training Division of the Department of Education and Culture, the
Nova Scotia Department of Human Resources, W&A Moir Limited,
Pierceys Limited and the Halifax Campus of the Nova Scotia
Community College.

The 1996 GETT participants are: Angela Borden, Rana Musa, Angela
Slauenwhite, Ashley Brine, Tamara Johnston, Megan Paris, Eileen
Redmond, Coady-Jean Smith, Lianne White, Carissa Campbell,
Jennifer DeViller, Sierra Hoyte, Vanessa Johnson, Shayleita
Morris, and Erin Sydney of Halifax; Ashley Thomas, Rebecca
Legaarden, Lindsay Kwan, Christine Dewis, Alyssa DeBaie, Linda
Viau, Navoda Samarasekera, Jennifer Eisener, Kirstin Crabtree,
and Amanda Cole of Dartmouth; Shannon Glover and Holly Ryer of
Tantallon; Melanie DeYoung and Autumn Meek of Hammonds Plains;
and Alexandra Malone of Lower Sackville.

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Contact: Kelly Thomas  902-424-5262

trp                      July 19, 1996 - 2:50 p.m.