Women in the construction trades gathered in the capital city this week to network and discuss the industry.

The growing involvement of women in the skilled trades is changing the industry, but chair Valerie Penney says some old perceptions remain.

She admits, some “old school” mentality remains, but men in the industry want to learn and understand the challenges women in trades face. “The forum is as much for men as it is women,” says Penney, “because we want to…educate. We often hear ‘we didn’t know, we don’t understand, so how can we be better to support the women that are there?'”