Women in Trades: Panel Discussion and Information Fair

Women in Trades
Panel Discussion and Information Fair

Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10am – 1pm
Cambridge Art Galleries, Queen’s Square
Register here

A Statistics Canada survey completed in 2024, reviewing labour force characteristics, found that a wide gap in the proportion of female-identifying persons to male-identifying persons employed in the area of trades, transport, and equipment operators still exists: 7.9% to 92.1%. Inspired by welder-turned-artist Cal Lane and her solo exhibition, Industrial Intimacies, this event takes a top-down approach to demystify the trades for anyone who is interested in learning about the sector, focusing on women in trades.

Throughout the event attendees are invited to visit one of the community partners in the lobby for more information about apprenticeships, funding, and organizations supporting the trades.

Images (clockwise from top left): Nushrat Ahmed, photo courtesy of Nush Ahmed and Addman; Brooke Laing; Roisin Fagan; Tara Bursey. Photos courtesy of the panelists.

Panel Discussion

From 11:00am to 12:00pm, Tara Bursey, Executive Director of Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, moderates a panel discussion on women in the trades. Registration is required to attend the panel discussion. Panelists include Nushrat Ahmed, CEO and Co-Founder, Sisterhood of Trades; Brooke Laing, Chief of Strategy at Sisterhood of Trades and UA Local 46 Apprentice; Roisin Fagan, Licensed 309a Electrician, BFA; and Cal Lane, Artist.

Nushrat (Nush) Ahmed: “I’ve been working in manufacturing for around 4 years. I started out on the floor as a lathe operator and moved into swiss set up within a year. During that time, I grew my LinkedIn and network through podcasts and eventually created my own. Along the way I also started a company called Sisterhood of Trades with 3 other tradeswomen. A while later I had moved into quality inspection at an aerospace company—which happened to be a ProShop customer. Through my connections and understanding of the industry I was able to get a job with ProShop. When I’m not working, I’m moderating or planning events for the Sisterhood. Our mission and goal with it is to fund scholarships for the next generation of tradeswomen.”

Tara Bursey is the Executive Director of the Workers Arts & Heritage Centre, Canada’s only labour history museum and multidisciplinary art centre. Born in Scarborough and based in Hamilton, she is also an interdisciplinary artist and self publisher. Tara has worked in a curatorial capacity for the City of Hamilton Tourism and Culture Division, Hamilton Supercrawl, Craft Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Art Gallery of Burlington, and the Wychwood Barns Community Association. Over the last decade, she has worked most rigorously in the areas of programming and education, bringing arts-based learning to first and second graders at her neighbourhood school, and curating exhibitions about zines, working class history, and wrestling.

Roisin Fagan is a Licensed 309a Electrician living in Hamilton, Ontario with a background in art (BFA NSCADU, 2005). Her experience teaching in post-secondary has led to a love of tutoring and mentoring apprentices to help them succeed in the trades, academically and personally. A member of Women On Site, Roisin is a fierce believer in the importance and positive impact of diversity on the jobsite.

Brooke Laing is a steamfitter and welding apprentice with UA Local 46 in Toronto, and a passionate advocate for women in the skilled trades. Known for combining hands-on experience with storytelling, she uses her platform to highlight real jobsite experiences, industry culture, and the voices often missing from the conversation. Brooke is the co-host of the podcast Two Bolts Short of a Flange, where she and her fiancé share unfiltered insights into life in the trades. Through her work, she is committed to building community, challenging industry norms, and inspiring the next generation of tradespeople.

Cal Lane is an internationally acclaimed sculptor known for turning ordinary objects into lacy artworks. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and a Master degree in Fine Arts in sculpture from State University of New York. Having spent much of her early life as a hairdresser in her mother’s salon in Vancouver Island, Lane soon became interested in exploring gender roles and conceptual art. Lane’s work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions nationally and internationally including Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, France, and the USA.

Cal Lane, Industrial Intimacies, curated by Karly Boileau, is on display until April 19, 2026 at Cambridge Public Library, Queen’s Square Gallery.

Also On Display

Mads Brimble: The Keepers
Until April 13, 2026
Cambridge Public Library, Queen’s Square Artist Garden and Clemens Mill

Melissa Johns: Hope Chest
Until April 30, 2026
Digital Screens at all Cambridge Public Library locations

Belonging: Made by Many
Until May 10, 2026
Cambridge Public Library, Preston Gallery

Sofia Eleni Escobar: Cast Shadow
Until July 11, 2026
Cambridge Public Library, Hespeler

Natalie Hunter: You might as well try and hold the sun
Until August 29, 2026
Cambridge Public Library, Queen’s Square

Cambridge Art Galleries
cambridgepl.ca/art
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Cambridge Public Library, Queen’s Square
1 North Square
Cambridge, ON N1S 2K6

Hours of Operation
Monday to Thursday, 9:30am – 8:30pm
Friday and Saturday, 9:30am – 5:30pm
Sunday, 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Admission is free. All are welcome.

Cambridge Public Library acknowledges that our services and facilities are located on lands that are part of the Haldimand Tract. We recognize the complex history of the Haldimand Tract, the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Chonnonton. We honour the enduring connection between our shared past, collective present, and collective future through listening, reflecting and learning.

Accessibility:
The Cambridge Public Library Board is committed to accessibility. For more information: cambridgepl.ca/about/accessibility

Media Contact:
Žana Kozomora, Assistant Curator
Cambridge Art Galleries
zkozomora@cambridgepl.ca
519.621.0460 x129

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the City of Cambridge, Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario.