Trades open house for Yukon women draws none

It was meant to inform and inspire more Yukon women to pursue careers in the trades. The trouble was, no women showed up.

The open house was held Tuesday morning at the Kwanlin Dün First Nation's Learning House in Whitehorse, with guest presenters from Yukon Women in Trades and Technology (YWITT). The presenters didn't present — they waited for an audience that never showed.

"That engagement piece, that kind of needs to be worked on," said Sean Smith, a Kwanlin Dün councillor. "Where there's a will, there's a way, and we need to find these opportunities."

Brenda Barnes of YWITT said the low turnout was "fairly atypical" — a similar event last week in Carmacks drew half a dozen people.

She said the Kwanlin Dün event was still worthwhile for her organization to be there and build contacts with the First Nation.

"I could be disappointed if I chose to be, but I didn't," Barnes said. "I need to take advantage of every opportunity I have to reach what I'll call the 'unusual suspects'."

Yukon Women in Trades will be holding another session in January.