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Unifor’s Social Justice Fund, in partnership with CN Rail, presented a one-year grant totalling $200,000 to Edmonton-based Women Building Futures (WBF) at this years Unifor Prairie Regional Council.
“When women have real access to training, real financial support, and real opportunities in the Skilled Trades, our entire economy gets stronger,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This partnership is about more than tools and tuition. It’s about opening doors that have been closed for too long, and making sure women have a clear path into good, unionized careers.”
WBF equips women, particularly those who are unemployed or underemployed, with the skills, certifications, and supports needed to pursue stable, high-paying careers in construction, maintenance, transportation, and related industries.
“Our members in the West see every day what it takes to build a strong workforce, and they know that opportunity has to be matched with real support,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “This investment helps remove the barriers that have kept too many women out of the trades, and it strengthens the communities our members live and work in.”
Funds from the grant will be used in two key areas. The first will support WBF’s workshop and classroom training centre in Edmonton as it renovates and modernizes the facility and replaces aging tools and equipment. Students will take part directly in aspects of the renovation, gaining hands-on experience along the way.
The second area will support WBF’s Student Impact Fund, which provides financial allowances to students and recent graduates. These supports help cover essential costs such as rent, childcare, transportation, food, and other critical needs during training and the early transition into employment. This flexible support reduces financial barriers, improves program completion rates, and promotes long-term workforce retention.
"This donation will have a meaningful and immediate impact for the women we serve. It allows us to update our training tools so students are learning on safe, industry-standard equipment, and it strengthens our Student Impact Fund, which covers essentials like tuition, PPE, food, child care, and rent,” said Carla Madra, President & CEO, Women Building Futures. “Because of this support, our students can focus fully on their training and building their futures."
Together, these investments will modernize WBF's training environment, enhance student success, and strengthen pathways for women entering traditionally male-dominated sectors. The partnership represents a transformative opportunity to create lasting economic and social impact for women.
The Unifor Social Justice Fund is supported by member contributions negotiated through collective bargaining, and invests in projects that advance equity, opportunity, and worker power in Canada and around the world.
