Province Investing in Opportunities for Nova Scotia Women

More young Nova Scotia women will explore careers in science, trades and technology thanks, in part, to a $60,000 Department of Energy investment in the Techsploration program. Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, Status of Women Minister, recently presented the cheque to Techsploration executive director Tricia Robertson in Halifax.

Techsploration helps Grade 9 students from diverse backgrounds learn about careers in science, trades and technology, meet female role models and explore innovative workplaces. Each year, the program hosts about 100 young women from 16 schools across the province, including three First Nations schools and an Acadian school. The additional funding will make it possible for more students to participate.

"Techsploration gives young women more career options," said Ms. Bolivar-Getson. "When more Nova Scotians are earning more secure, and higher, salaries, we all benefit."

This year, 19 industry partners participated in the program. More than half of them were from the energy sector.

"We are pleased to support skills and trades development for the young Nova Scotia women participating in the program," said Energy Minister Cecil Clarke. "Investing in Techsploration is crucial to ensuring there is a large and diverse, skilled Nova Scotia workforce that businesses can hire from in the years ahead."

The program brings the Grade 9 students together with role models in fields that women traditionally do not choose. All students from the participating schools learn more about occupations and fields of work that may be new to them so the participants, their schools and Nova Scotia employers all benefit.

As part of Techsploration, the students are placed on teams assigned to science-, trades- or technology-related occupations and mentored by women working in those fields. Later, each school team shares its experiences and research with students at its home school. The year winds up with the Techsplorers Event in which the participating students from across Nova Scotia gather at Nova Scotia Community College Strait Area Campus with their teachers, role models, volunteers, and invited guests to participate in exciting interactive presentations and workshops.

Launched in 1998, Techsploration is a joint initiative of the Nova Scotia Community College, the apprenticeship training and skill development division of the Department of Education, and Women in Trades and Technology Nova Scotia.