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In this episode of the Refrigeration Mentor podcast, host Trevor Matthews talks with Jamie McMillan of Made in the Trades about empowering and inspiring youth to pursue a career in the skilled trades. Jamie is a longtime ironworker, boilermaker, educator and speaker passionate about motivating youth towards skilled trades - even as young as elementary school (she even has a line of trade-themed colouring books). Jamie is a major advocate for a paradigm shift in how trades are perceived and taught, emphasizing the need for government support, school curriculum changes and more quality co-op and apprenticeship opportunities with existing tradespeople. On a special note: thanks so much for helping the Refrigeration Mentor podcast reach 200 episodes!

In this episode, Trevor and Jamie discuss:

-The importance of early childhood education about skilled trades

-The role of government in promoting skilled trades

-Changing generational attitudes about the trades

-Addressing mental health in the trades

-Promoting the trades to at-risk youth and those with ADHD

-Why trades often pay more than academia

-Advocating for teaching more practical skills in school

-Finding trained people to teach the trades in high school

-Attracting women to the trades

-Promoting inclusive and healthy work environments

-Offering better co-op and apprenticeship opportunities

-Identifying trade school candidates in high school

-Common misconceptions about the trades

-How innovation is attracting new people to the trades

Resources & helpful links:

Jamie's website: madeinthetrade.com/

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