Toronto, ON — The Bolt Charitable Foundation is accepting applications for its Bolt Women in Construction Grant. Successful recipients will receive $500 and will be connected to a female mentor from their own or similar trade to help provide additional career advice and support.
In partnership with Support Ontario Youth (SOY) and Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen, Bolt is looking to fill the industry with more women by proactively recruiting and training young women in the skilled trades.
“I am honoured and thankful to receive a Bolt scholarship that will support me and my passion for plumbing! I will be forever grateful for all their support in helping me get to where I am today by giving me career and scholarship opportunities. Thanks to Bolt, I am so much closer to accomplishing my goals and I can’t wait to see where my career takes me! Bolt played a role in every step of my construction journey and has given me the stability I have today,” said Melanie Klemens, 306A plumber and 2023 recipient.
Multiple grants are awarded throughout the year and can be applied to the costs of workwear, tools, in-class training, or living expenses.
To be eligible, applicants must identify as a female between 17 and 29 years of age, be able to demonstrate financial need, hold a valid registered trade agreement, work in the construction industry, and lastly, live in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and be registered with the Skilled Trades Ontario.
There are four application periods, January to March, April to June, July to September and October to December. Winners for each application period will be announced the following period.
Applications for this period will be accepted until Dec. 31, and winners will be announced in January/February 2024.
Since its inception in 2021, the Bolt Women in Construction Grant has had 11 recipients and a total of $5,500 given out.