When Okanagan College (OC) alum Cassidy McEown took on the challenge of restoring a 1969 Roadrunner on the show Rust Valley Restorers, she wasn鈥檛 just buffing out dents 鈥 she was proving her mettle. Tasked with handling the car乌鸦传媒 bodywork, paint, and polishing entirely on her own, McEown rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless finish on a tight deadline for the reality TV show.
Her reward? A well-deserved raise, newfound respect, and the confidence to achieve her Red Seal certification. Much like the Roadrunner itself, McEown has been unstoppable ever since, cruising past challenges and breaking barriers in the trades industry.
Her latest endeavour came last Friday at OC鈥櫸谘淮 Vernon campus where she mentored dozens of high school students, talking to them about the benefits of a career in Trades.
鈥淚鈥檝e gained a lot of confidence in myself as a woman in trades,鈥 she says. 鈥淟earning the importance of good shop morale and building solid working relationships has been huge. I鈥檝e also had a chance to understand the business side of the shop, from time management to materials, which has helped me see the bigger picture.鈥
Jill of All Trades is a day-long event to inspire young women in Grades 9-12 to pursue education and careers in skilled trades and apprenticeship. The most recent event in BC took place at the OC campus in Vernon. The event included hands-on workshops in the automotive power, manufacturing, and construction trades sectors. McEown and other female mentors led these workshops to help young women develop a better understanding of the potential of skilled trades鈥 careers.
Since graduating from OC乌鸦传媒 Trades and Apprenticeship program in 2020, Cassidy McEown has forged an impressive name for herself. This triple-threat is a skilled Autobody and Collision Technician, a regular on the show Rust Valley Restorers, and a Red Seal-certified professional who has captivated a broad audience on Instagram and YouTube. Her inspiring journey now includes mentoring the next generation of women in trades by participating in the Jill of All Trades program.
McEown recently opened her own auto body shop, documenting her journey on a new YouTube channel. Starting her business has brought its own set of challenges, but McEown is excited about the future as she shifts her focus on buying and flipping cars in quick builds. 鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 focused on learning more about the business side of things, buying and flipping quick builds until I can move into a larger space and start working on custom vehicles,鈥 she explains. This venture represents a new chapter for McEown 鈥 a space where she can express her creativity, challenge her technical skills, and share her journey with an audience eager to learn from her experiences.
While laser-focused on her career, McEown is also keen to give back by sharing her story and supporting upcoming women in trades through events like Jill of All Trades.
鈥淭here乌鸦传媒 been a positive shift in the industry culture, with more women joining trades than ever before,鈥 she says. 鈥淲hile there乌鸦传媒 still work to be done to support workplace inclusivity, things are moving in a positive direction.鈥
For McEown, a key message to young women at Jill of All Trades is that there are abundant opportunities in trades right now, especially for those willing to work hard and advocate for themselves.
McEown乌鸦传媒 success story aligns with a promising trend at Okanagan College and in the broader trades field. Recent studies are also showing the public perception of Trades is changing.
鈥淚n January 2024, 20 per cent of our Trades Foundation students in underrepresented trades were female, with record participation in Automotive Service Technician (27 per cent) and Plumbing and Piping Foundation (30 per cent),鈥 said Stephen Speers, Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship at Okanagan College, shares,
鈥淔emale apprentices are still underrepresented nationally, with only six and a half per cent of BC apprentices being women. At OC, eight per cent of our apprentices are female but with hands-on workshops, a diverse mentor lineup, and young women eager to explore trades, the Jill of All Trades event aims to inspire more young women to take up the tools of the trade and shape their futures with confidence.鈥
For McEown, mentoring at Jill of All Trades is a way to give back to the trades community that helped shape her. She believes the event offers a powerful opportunity for young women to explore trades, connect with experienced mentors, and be inspired by what乌鸦传媒 possible. And for high school girls in attendance, meeting someone like McEown鈥攁 young woman forging her own path in her career of choice鈥攑rovides a concrete example of what乌鸦传媒 achievable.
Through events like Jill of All Trades鈩, Okanagan College continues to open doors, reshape expectations, and ensure that young women know they have a place in these rewarding and in-demand careers. The next Jill of All Trades hosted by Okanagan College will take place in 乌鸦传媒 on May 22, 2025.
Learn more about Trades and Apprenticeship programs at Okanagan College and Jill of All Trades by visiting Okanagan College Trades.