Sep 11, 2023
Heidi Allen never considered herself to be a “perfect” student. As soon as homework was done, she would find herself having fun with friends no exception.
“I would come home and tell my dad about upcoming projects like this haunted house we did one year,” recalls Heidi. “Picture this: Students are coming off the bus with their normal-sized projects while my dad and I drive up in a truck with this massive cardboard haunted house four times the size of me. When it came to being hands-on, I was always engaged and knew something like this would be my career.”
Not knowing exactly what career path to take led her to a young female-centred conference called Build a Dream where she was exposed to the skilled trades. Excited to try one, Heidi signed herself up for Sacred Heart High School’s manufacturing class in Walkerton, Ontario not knowing what she was getting herself into.
“Knowing nothing and walking into a room full of guys was nerve-wracking, but that didn’t stop me,” she says proudly. “One of the first things I did in that class was welding and from that moment on I knew it was for me. I liked it so much that I used to ask to go to the bathroom in other classes only to end up in Mr. McCormick’s workshop class. Of course, my parents received a lot of phone calls about my absences in period three, but it seems like it all worked out.”
Seizing Opportunity
Heidi had the itch to weld, and before she knew it, she and her brother, who was training to be a pipefitter at the time, built a makeshift welding station in their backyard with his equipment to practice on. As the sparks flew, she often found herself getting frustrated as she struggled to learn how to achieve a perfect weld. With tears rolling down the inside of her helmet and wondering if welding was what she truly wanted to do, her brother kept her focused and motivated. She says people like her brother and Mike McCormick were pivotal in her success because they encouraged and nudged her in the right direction.
“Mike signed me up for a 30-hour welding camp in 2020 hosted by the CWB Foundation and UA Canada called “Sparking Success”. It was a week of welding with UA Canada professionals, and I absolutely loved the experience. That following week, my parents discovered another CWB Foundation program called “Women of Steel,” being held at Fanshawe College that I immediately signed up for. What I didn’t realize at the time was that all these little steps I was taking were opening doors for myself.”
Opening doors is at the core of what the CWB Foundation is all about. What Heidi didn’t know at the time was that she was in the beginning stages of working her way through the Sparking Success program, a collaborative effort between the CWB Foundation, Bruce Power, UA Canada, Bluewater District School Board, and the Bruce-Grey Catholic School Board. This program is an innovative partnership designed to enhance welding education for secondary school students, forge pathways to jobs in the welding trade, and develop the skilled welders required to fulfill Bruce Power’s future workforce needs. Schools participating in the program have been upgraded with modernized welding facilities, materials and consumables, as well as personal protective equipment.
Mike McCormick, an instructor and one of Heidi’s biggest supporters during her time at Sacred Heart High School, says the Sparking Success program leaves a lasting impact on the students who take it.
“The students get wound up with excitement after taking this program. Many of them ask about competing in regional Skills competitions. It’s great to partner with and have access to experts in the welding industry.”
So far, the program has been a Sparking Success (pun intended) as numerous youths have welded their way through high school and into post-secondary courses and apprenticeships after being exposed to the skilled trade, while hundreds more have benefitted from the equipment upgrades and safety measures.
Fierce Determination
After graduating high school, Heidi marched through the doors of UA Local 527, a multi-craft union whose members are engaged in the fabrication, installation, and servicing of piping systems in Waterloo, Ontario. Determined to become a welder, she passed the pipefitters aptitude test and started welding an endless number of coupons until she was ready to take her first weld test. She had no trouble passing it and, at only 18 years old, officially became the youngest member at UA Local 527. Shortly after, she immediately began working in the field.
“Walking into an apprenticeship was one of the best things to happen to me,” says Heidi. I was very eager to weld right out of high school, and I wanted to be in the field right away. I’ll admit, I didn’t know what an apprenticeship looked like then, but I knew it would allow me to learn welding right away.”
More recently, Heidi competed in the 2023 Skills Ontario competition in Toronto, an opportunity she won’t soon forget.
“The experience was awesome. I didn’t win, but I loved every moment of it. I’ve never done competitions before, but the union hall said I was just the type of person that should go. I was able to network and meet lots of cool people, and I’ll probably end up going to the next competition when it comes around.”
Having accumulated so much experience at such a young age, Heidi continues to hone her craft and look for more opportunities to expand horizons for both her and others looking to get into the skilled trades.
“If you have a dream, don’t let anything stop you from chasing after it. Complete a co-op and take classes and workshops. Discover your passion and know that frustration comes with learning but sticking with it is key, just like I have. Opportunity is out there; remember to network with everyone you work with. You never know what doors will open by making those connections.”
Heidi might not have known it at the time, but she’s a shining example of the impact initiatives like our Sparking Success program and innovative partnerships can have on youth and industries that rely on highly skilled trades such as welding and fabrication. To learn more about our amazing initiatives, visit our Programs page!