When North Forge teamed up with the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) and Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME) to launch a women and gender-diverse carpentry workshop, they had no idea just how quickly demand would surge. The inaugural session in November 2024 filled almost instantly, and with another full cohort beginning this Monday, it’s clear the program has struck a chord.
Held at the North Forge FabLab™ — one of North America’s largest publicly accessible fabrication labs — the workshop offers hands-on experience with woodworking tools. Whether participants are considering a career in the trades or simply want the confidence to tackle their own projects, the program is designed to remove barriers and build skills.
“Bridging this gap means rethinking access points and developing innovative approaches to trade exploration,” said Andrea Aiello, Executive Director of Workforce Development at CME. “The overwhelming demand and waitlists for these initiatives prove that interest is there—we just need to meet it.”
One of the most significant ways the program is making an impact is through scholarships. Thanks to funding from MCSC, four individuals from both cohorts received full financial support to participate in the workshop — ensuring that cost wasn’t a barrier to gaining valuable hands-on experience.
At the heart of the workshop’s success is its instructors. One of them is Ava Foster, a lifelong woodworker who never expected to be leading the course — until she did.
A Reluctant Leader Turned Role Model
The idea of a women and gender-diverse carpentry workshop had been floating around North Forge for years, but when it came time to find an instructor, nobody stepped forward. That’s when Foster realized it was her moment to lead.
“I was sort of a reluctant leader… I feel like my confidence grew in leading that group, and being proud of them, and being proud of Sam and myself,” she said, referring to her co-instructor, Samantha Martin.
Foster has been wood carving her whole life, but her passion lies in traditional furniture making — an art she studied over a decade ago. It involves wood joinery — the craft of connecting pieces of wood to create structures or furniture. It’s like a puzzle, where different techniques are used to ensure strength, durability, and sometimes even beauty in the way the pieces fit together.
While crafting furniture isn’t her full-time job, Foster’s home is filled with furniture she built herself — an outcome of her desire to gain independence rather than outsource work.
“It was more about learning these [skills] for myself, to increase the value of my own home — to not have to go out and seek outside help, or pay somebody else to do it.”
But leading the course has expanded her perspective beyond personal skill-building.
More Than Just Carpentry—A Confidence Boost
For Foster, the workshop isn’t just about woodworking — it’s about empowerment.
“I grew up thinking that my brother was great at building stuff. Even playing Lego, I was assisting him instead of building my own stuff,” she said. “Being in an environment where it's only women and gender-diverse individuals… it’s just given the demographic more permission to make mistakes and embrace it.”
Throughout the November workshop, she saw a transformation unfold. Participants, who initially hesitated to pick up tools, became comfortable in the woodshop, collaborating and encouraging one another.
“Within the first class, they thanked us for providing a safe environment for them to do their work,” Foster said. “Having the class led by women is important as well. I can share my experiences working in the industry, and Sam can as well.”
One of the most rewarding aspects for Foster was seeing students approach projects with resilience rather than fear.
“What I loved is that people weren’t [protective] of their projects,” she said. “They were making mistakes, and nobody was upset about the mistakes… The emphasis wasn’t on the result; it was on the process.”
Rewriting the Narrative Around Trades
Proper training is another crucial component. Foster and Martin ensure that participants receive thorough safety instruction before using any equipment at the FabLab™, which isn’t always the case in informal learning environments.
“Most people, especially dudes, are like, ‘oh, I learned from my dad,’ and it’s like, ‘well, your dad doesn’t have safe practices because he just bought a table saw and started using it.’ We need to have a structure and show what a safe practice is here,” Foster said.
For her, the workshop is just the beginning. She hopes it inspires other women and gender-diverse individuals to consider a career in trades — or, at the very least, to feel capable in their own home projects.
“I think a lot of people have been waiting for a course like this… and I think the time is right for it,” she said.
Beyond carpentry, Foster is eager to connect with other women and gender-diverse tradespeople who may be interested in teaching their own workshops.
“It would be amazing to network, and find others who would like to contribute to different courses in the future, or perhaps they already have courses of their own running that we can cross-promote.”
With momentum growing and demand continuing to outpace supply, one thing is certain — this isn’t just a workshop. It’s the start of something bigger.
The next cohort is set to launch at the end of April, and registration for it opens soon. To learn more about the program, or join the waitlist for future cohorts, visit northforge.ca/carpentry-workshop.
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