Award Canada Partners with Jill of All Trades

We’re proud to formalize a Collaborative Award Partnership between The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada and Jill of All Trades (JOAT). 

This partnership builds on a shared commitment to opening doors for young people—particularly young women—to explore and succeed in skilled trades and technology pathways through hands-on, experiential learning. 

Through this collaboration, Award participants are supported to connect their hands-on interests and goals with real-world opportunities that are practical, empowering, and future-focused—whether they are exploring a trade for the first time or building on an existing interest. 

Jill of All Trades encourages young women to consider careers in trades and technologies through immersive, hands-on experiences, supported by a strong network of community partners. 

Jeffrey Yao, Director, EOP Post-Secondary Talent Pathways at Award Canada, reflects on Jill of All Trades and the Award:

“The natural alignment in the work that Jill of All Trades and the Award do makes this CAP a perfect fit, working to empower future generations of women in the trades.” 

By aligning JOAT programming with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Canada, we are supporting young people to: 

• Gain hands-on, skills-based experience in trades and technologies 

• Set meaningful personal goals and track their progress 

• Build confidence, resilience, and transferable life skills 

• Explore clear, tangible pathways from learning to future careers 

Award Canada Senior Director, Laura Briscoe, welcomed the partnership and shared with the young female audience:

“Your future is shaped by your courage to explore, to learn, to try something new, and to keep going. The trades need your ideas, your talent, your determination, and your leadership. Through this partnership, we hope you will see more than a program or an event.  We hope you will see possibility.  We hope you will see belonging.  And most of all, we hope you will see that there is a place for you in building the future.” 

Together, we are recognizing and valuing learning that happens within and beyond the classroom—while supporting educators, community partners, and industry leaders who are shaping more inclusive and accessible pathways into the skilled trades. 

We are grateful to Rosie Hessian, Director, Jill of All Trades, and the team at Jill of All Trades for their leadership and commitment to empowering the next generation of trades professionals, and we look forward to the impact we will create together. 

Interested in partnering with the Award to support youth skill development and career exploration? 

Connect with us: https://www.dukeofed.org/collaborative-award-partners/  

Thank you to all the Collaborative Award Partners who continue to improve opportunities for all youth to achieve success in fields that matter to them.   

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