Jamie McMillan visited St. Charles College this week to speak with girls in grades 8 and 9 and specifically work on getting girls turned onto the trades.

McMillan, who hails originally from Timmins, is a journeyman ironworker, boilermaker and the founder of KickAss Careers.

She got into the business after learning about apprenticeships after struggling her way through high school and beyond. She became an ironworker at a time when women only represented 2 per cent of the workforce.

McMillan shared her trials and tribulations with the girls as she is determined to remove the stereotypes and create an equal playing field for journeymen, or journeywomen.

She speaks to women all over North America and has won several awards for her achievements.

She told the girls at St. Charles to start by considering a technology course in their high school.