Keynote speaker, Jamie MacMillan, told her story about becoming an IronWorker and founding KickAss Careers to help inform youth about the skilled trades March 3 at the annual Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey International Women’s Day Celebration.

Hub Staff

In celebration of the 2020 International Women’s Day (IWD), Women’s House Serving Bruce and Grey (WHSBG), the County of Bruce and Business to Bruce hosted their annual International Women's Day Celebration and their Women of Distinction awards at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin March 3. Every seat in the house was filled and guests enjoyed an array of appetizers before the speeches began.

Opening statements were made by Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff who spoke of two influential women in his life, his grandmother and great-grandmother. Huron-Bruce MP Constituency Manager Pat O’Connor spoke on behalf of Ben Lobb who sent his congratulations to this year’s award winners and nominees.

Kincardine Mayor and Bruce County Councillor Anne Eadie recalled a time before the WHSBG existed and when she beared witness to the change it brought to the community. Eadie declared the evening a celebration of all women entrepreneurs, business owners, employees and hardworking mothers; as well as a night to acknowledge the creative women who have fought for what they believe in and the fearless women who forge into male dominated territory.

“We celebrate all the women who wake up every morning and try in their own way to make a difference in the world,” said Eadie.

Eadie demonstrated the progress that women have made over the last century by quoting a Grade 3 student who once asked her, “Can a mayor be a man?"

WHSBG Community and Fund Development Coordinator Michelle Lamont reviewed the services that are offered free of charge to any woman and her children in Bruce and Grey counties who has suffered abuse and homelessness. Emergency shelter, 24-hour counsellor access, a 24-hour emergency help line, outreach counsellors, youth counsellors and second stage housing are just some of the programs and services provided by the Women’s House.

“We’re partially funded by the Ministry but our funding has been frozen for over a decade,” said Lamont explaining that there is always a gap between government funding and the actual costs to carry out their programs and services. "This year our gap was $193,592," she said.

Lamont repeated the figure to emphasize the amount that they are required to raise through sponsorships and events to ensure they can meet community demands. “We’re very lucky to have such loyal supporters, because without them and you, we would have to reduce the amount of support, offering less services and programs to the women that find them so vital,” explained Lamont.

WHSBG Board Chair Tracy Primeau gratefully acknowledged the 39 sponsors who donated a total of $130,000. “That’s a big impact on our overall shortfall,” said Primeau.

The evening’s trivia challenge as well as the silent and live auction contributed another $2,600 to the Women’s House and Business to Bruce announced the donation of all ticket sales to WHSBG to help meet the fundraising goal.

The Woman of Distinction and Young Woman of Distinction awards were handed out to Ruth Montgomery and Morgan Ritchie respectively. In 2017, Montgomery founded The Maven Project, an organization that aims to guide individuals on a soul searching journey to discover fulfillment in their lives. Montgomery’s nominator, Kirby Proper, described her as an entrepreneur, coach and mentor who changes the lives of those around her for the better.

Creator of The Maven Project, Ruth Montgomery (right), accepted her Woman of Distinction Award at the 2020 International Women’s Day Celebration held at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin March 3 from WHSBG Community and Fund Development Coordinator Michelle Lamont (left).

“I’d like to remind you here tonight, that you are exactly as you are meant to be,” declared Montgomery in her acceptance speech. “By allowing yourself to share a story from a point of vulnerability, you give others permission to share theirs as well. By sharing our stories, we start to recognize that we are more alike than we are different and we start to feel less alone," she said.

Margaret Visser, nominator of the Young Woman of Distinction recipient, noted the many talents and accomplishments of Ritchie including music, dance, teaching and leading others as School Council Vice President and Ambassador of Kincardine Fall Fair. “She uses her positions to advocate, support and educate others and be the voice for others less fortunate,” stated Visser.

Young Woman of Distinction Award recipient Morgan Ritchie (right) thanked all the individuals in her life who have helped her grow into the strong woman she is today during her acceptance speech at the International Women's Day Celebration March 3. She was presented the award by WHSBG Community and Fund Development Coordinator Michelle Lamont (left).

“Leadership doesn’t come out of the blue," said Ritchie. "It comes from being mentored by insightful people."

Ritchie thanked her teachers for helping to develop her confidence, her friends for all their support and her family for their acceptance and encouragement. Ritchie said her distinction stemmed from the community that helped sculpt the women she is today. “I’d be a fool not to recognize my tribe,” she said.

This year, a worthy nomination that did not fulfill all the criteria gave rise to the creation of a one-time award for an Inspiring Woman of Distinction. The recipient, Amy Bross, had unfortunately been the victim of a fatal car crash six months earlier and her aunt, Tami MacDonald, nominated Bross for her relentless efforts to empower others during her life.

MacDonald described Bross as a courageous individual who started her own business, Fitness with Amy, as a way to lift and empower others. “It was an opportunity to motivate, to inspire, set goals and make positive change,” said MacDonald.

“Today I believe her message to you would have been humble, heartfelt and motivational just like she was,” MacDonald said through tears.

MacDonald shared one of Bross’ social media posts that was written just one month before her passing. “When you rise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive, to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love,” quoted MacDonald.

Tami MacDonald (right), nominated her niece, Amy Bross, for a Woman of Distinction award. Bross passed away six months earlier but the nomination resulted in a one-time posthumus Inspiring Woman of Distinction Award. WHSBG Community and Fund Development Coordinator Michelle Lamont (left) presented the award.

Keynote speaker, Jamie MacMillan, shared with the audience her own journey to find her inner fire which she found in an area not commonly tread by women but which sparked within her an undeniable passion. Although MacMillan faced many challenges in a predominately male field, her real struggles were met earlier on her path as she tried to force herself into different molds that were unfit to contain her spirit, inspiring her to become an advocate for young women pursuing a career in the skilled trades.

MacMillan’s troubles began as an elementary school student in Timmons, Ontario where, as a result of ADHD and a learning disability, found herself isolated in a group of children with behavioural challenges. Soon bullies replaced her friends and self doubt drowned her confidence.

In an effort to help her situation, MacMillan's parents enrolled her in a Christian school where she said she managed to excel all the way through to Grade 11 by cheating on tests. When MacMillan was thrown into the public school system again, she faced the culture shock of transitioning from a small, all ages Christian school to a secondary school with an enrolment vast in comparison.

Furthermore, knowing she had grades she couldn't maintain, MacMillan focused on electives and throwing herself into a woodworking project landed her at the top of her class.

“Nobody said to me, 'Hey, you’re really good at working with your hands, did you know co-op exists, do you know anything about apprenticeship, do you know that you can take a tech program, that construction has awesome opportunities,'" recalled MacMillan. “You know what they said to me? They said, 'You're a girl, you need to go to college or university and you can be a dental hygienist or a secretary or a nurse.'"

Feeling like a failure, MacMillan fell in with a bad crowd and eventually dropped out of school. She lived with a roommate in a rundown apartment and worked at a fast food restaurant for six months until she was persuaded by her concerned parents to return to college as a mature student. MacMillan chose the shortest program she could find and earned a PSW certificate. In the beginning, MacMillan was thrilled with her new career. She bonded with her patients, made new friends and was quickly accepted into a full-time position.

“My friends changed, my bank account changed, I get a new address without mold,” remarked MacMillan, adding that she felt a sense of accomplishment. Unfortunately, after experiencing the death of some of her patients, who had become like family, MacMillan realized the pain was too much to bear.

MacMillan moved to Toronto and began bartending. She enjoyed the active nightlife in Toronto and the extra cash for three years, until a high school reunion again left her feeling incompetent. “I started to remember all the times I got picked on and bullied at school and I started to remember how stupid I felt back then and I started to feel it all over again,” she said. MacMillan fell into a deep depression and was gripped with a fear that confined her to her condo.

“When you’re about to check out, when you think you’re at the end, I promise you, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. There’s no reason to ever give up," said MacMillan.

She moved in with a friend in Hamilton but said that for two months she couldn't leave the house, let alone find a job. Eventually her friend gave her an ultimatum and MacMillan said it took every ounce of strength to force herself out into the world.

She was in a city where she knew no one but as she trudged through thoughts of suicide and self-loathing, she was stopped by her high school nemesis. As this woman talked about her life, she informed MacMillan that she never went to college or university, that she had instead done an apprenticeship, got paid to go to school and has been making $100,000 a year ever since as an Ironworker.

“Somebody let me know that there was another option. I didn’t have to go to college or university to be successful. There was something else out there that I loved that nobody in school told me about, I had to hear it from my high school nemesis eight years later on a curb side,” exclaimed MacMillan recalling that the encounter resulted in her promptly applying for an apprenticeship and within months she was working in the field.

“I walk away from work at the end of the day and I’m like, see that building, I put it up, see that, I did those welds today... see that condo or that building over there, I was part of that,” MacMillan said. “It felt so empowering, it changed my life, it saved my life,” she said.

In time, MacMillan began mentoring through Skills Ontario which led to her being sought by educators to work with students in their schools. “There was something about that, some little fire in there that had ignited a passion in my soul," noted MacMillan. “And I thought, I’m going to dive deeper into that because if I take the opportunity to do that, maybe I could change the work culture. If I continue talking to these young kids, maybe I could help them change the work culture in the future,” she mused.

“Next thing you know I’m getting booked all over the province of Ontario and 72 co-ordinators across the province are working with me, they know who I am and they want to book me at this event. I’m becoming the keynote speaker for everything Skills Ontario does," said MacMillan, recalling how one of her talks resonated with a teenage girl who, after meeting MacMillan, instead of dropping out of school she signed up for every shop program available and continued her education to become a welding tech.

This experience drove MacMillan to create KickAss Careers whose mission is to engage, educate and encourage youth to consider careers in MITC sectors through school and community outreach. “Now I reach 50,000 kids across the province. Now I’m talking in Canada and the United States. I’m getting booked all over and I get to share this message with everybody and it’s pretty amazing," said MacMillan.

MacMillan reflected on her past and questioned how her life would have been different if someone had have informed her earlier about skilled trades earlier. “I was meant to live this life so that I can use my experience to help the next generation," she said. “Would it have changed my life? Probably a lot, but I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said.

The family of the late Amy Bross strike her signature pose at the International Women’s Day Celebration March 3 at Lakeshore Recreation in Port Elgin. Photo courtesy of Laura Burrell.

In addition to speaking on behalf of Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb, Pat O’Connor conducted the live auction, helping to raise money to help fill WHSBG's funding gap at the annual International Women's Day event.

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP Alex Ruff welcomed attendees to the WHSBG’s 2020 International Women’s Day Celebration in Port Elgin March 3.