Okanagan College employee Jenna Parask is a Toolroom Attendant and mother of six in a blended family.
Jenna first came to the college in 2018 when she took an exploratory trades program. Today, her daughter Mayzie Warren is a level four carpenter apprentice. Mayzie is a participant of the ACTION Project, funded in part by the government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, as she works her way towards her Red Seal Endorsement.
This Mother’s Day, the ACTION Project is celebrating women in the trades who are building our community while shaping the next generation through their strength, resilience, and representation in a male-dominated industry.
For Jenna, her journey has always been about more than just the work. “We’ve navigated it together,” she shares. “Learning resilience, adapting to challenges, and supporting each other every step of the way.”
Her days in industry weren’t always easy. Early starts, long hours, and physically demanding work don’t always align with school schedules or family life. While she’s been fortunate to have supportive supervisors, she knows that understanding isn’t always there. “There’s still a gap in what it means to balance being a mom and working in the trades,” she says. “It’s improving, but there’s still work to do.”
Every decision she makes is shaped by her role as a mother. “You become very intentional with your time,” she explains. “Sometimes that means turning down opportunities so you can show up for your kids, and that’s a choice you make with purpose.” But for Jenna, the impact of her work goes far beyond the job site.
“You’re not just building structures,” she says. “You’re building strength, independence, and a future your children will carry forward.”
As a fourth-year carpentry apprentice, that future is taking shape for Mayzie thanks to having her mom as an example. “Having a mom in the trades impacted my decision greatly,” she says. “She gave me the confidence I have and helped me find the stepping stones to start this career.”
Some of her earliest memories are tied to job sites, visiting her mom at work, learning by watching, and slowly building a passion for the craft. Today, those roles have come full circle. Now, it’s Mayzie bringing her mom to see her own work.
And through it all, Jenna has remained more than just a parent. She’s been a mentor, a guide, and a steady voice of support. “When I face challenges, I can call her, and she’s that voice of reason,” Mayzie says. “She helps me take a breath and overcome anything.”
For Jenna, watching her daughter build her own path is something she’s incredibly proud of. “To see her succeed in a field that can be tough, especially for young women, shows her strength and determination.”
That influence doesn’t stop with one family. Across the trades, women are stepping into motherhood at every stage of their careers, each navigating it in their own way. For Kylie Cyr, it’s just the beginning of that chapter. An expectant mother currently completing her Level 4 carpentry training, she is learning what it means to balance both worlds in real time. Being pregnant in the trades has shifted how she approaches her work.
“It’s made me think through my processes more,” she explains. “From tool use to how I move my body, and even the risks on site.” It hasn’t come without challenges. Even in the classroom, she noticed changes.
“It took a couple of weeks to feel like my brain was working normally,” she says. “I had to learn to take breaks and listen to myself instead of just pushing through.” As she prepares to return to the job site, Kylie knows she’ll need to adapt, adjusting how she works, how she moves, and how she supports her body through the process.
But one thing she’s learned is the importance of speaking up. “Being your own advocate is the most important thing,” she says. “When you are growing another life, it becomes a responsibility to ask for what you need.” Her story may just be beginning, but it reflects the same resilience seen in women like Jenna and the kind of example that shapes what comes next. Across these stories, one thing is clear: motherhood in the trades doesn’t look just one way.
It can look like guiding your daughter as she follows in your footsteps. It can look like carving out your own path. Or it can look like preparing to welcome a new life while continuing to build your career. Because in the end, the most important thing these women are building isn’t just the structures you can see. They’re the futures you can feel.
To learn more about the ACTION Project and how they’re supporting and empowering women to build careers in the trades, visit ACTION Project for Women. Mentorship, PPE, and financial supports are available. Whether you’re just starting to explore your path or ready to take the next step, there’s a place for you.
