Women Building Futures (WBF)

highlights the current challenges facing indus- try and governments all across the country. The Summit will tackle issues that impact how we do business and what is needed to devel- op best practices that create workplaces that meet the challenges of the next generation. Going forward, Kimpton says her goal for WBF is a larger impact through growth, specifically with expansion through B.C., with an eye on other provinces in the near future. In closing, Kimpton recalls a student in a WBF partnership program that just received the 2018 Workforce Development award from the Construction Owners Association of Alberta. “She had family that worked in the trades but until she attended an Information Session hosted by Women Building Futures, she had never considered a career like that for herself. She participated in a program with WBF, the Northwest Redwater Project, Ironworkers lo- cal 720 and Insulators 110, graduated and be- gan working immediately at NWR as an iron- worker. She felt she was able to tackle issues with the knowledge and confidence gained through her training with us. The first time I met her, I asked her what the WBF opportuni- ty meant for her. She held up a set of keys and said ‘This’ to which I responded ‘What?’ The keys were for her new home – something that represented economic freedom and stability for her children. Her new career allowed her to break the cycle of poverty—forever. This is the type of story we want to spread across the country.” www.womenbuildingfutures.com JULY 2018 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA 15