December 1, 2022* – Skills Ontario reports that its director of competitions, Jennifer Green, was recognized with a 2022 Premier’s Award at the annual Higher Education Summit under the category of Apprenticeship. Congratulations!

“Thank you to Colleges Ontario and the Premier’s Awards for creating the Apprenticeship category in 2017,” Green said during her acceptance speech. “Recognizing that these careers are just as important, by showcasing them, it will continue to break down the stigmas and stereotypes within our province and country.”

According to the Awards website:

Jennifer Green is smashing gender barriers and bridging Canada’s skills gap. As the only woman in her industrial mechanic millwright program, she has blazed a trail for thousands of women in the skilled trades through advocacy, mentorship and by sharing her opinions and experiences […].

A graduate of Conestoga College, Green is a licensed industrial mechanic millwright (2008).

In her current role with Skills Ontario, Green leads a skilled trades competition that involves 2400 competitors across 74 contests, 37,000 visitors, 800 volunteers and $11 million in-kind.

“Jennifer is an amazing example how women belong and can have phenomenal success with skilled trades as their foundation,” said, Ian Howcroft, CEO, Skills Ontario. “We are so proud of her accomplishments and this important recognition award.”

In 2020, she was appointed chair of a team of apprenticeship youth advisors who were invited to work with Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development on a provincial strategy to attract youth to the skilled trades.

“Recognition is so much bigger than ourselves. It’s an opportunity to provide positive influence and a chance for others to learn, grow and be motivated,” Green continued. “Thank you to all the people who have supported me on my path; my husband and family, all of my mentors, Skills Ontario, and many, many others. This is not just my achievement; it’s all of theirs, and the nominees, too, for skilled trades in Ontario.”

Presented by Colleges Ontario, the Premier’s Awards for outstanding college graduates “honour the important social and economic contribution that graduates make to Ontario and throughout the world”. The awards were launched in 1992 and are administered by Colleges Ontario.

* Updated January 11, 2023, with award presentation photo.