Amy Ovans, working toward success

Amy Ovans, 24, works as a welder at Rawtek Performance Fabrication, a company specializing in high-performance exhaust kits, located in Chute-à-Blondeau, near the border between Québec and Ontario.

Since 2020, she has also been teaching welding in the evening at the Nova Career Centre in Châteauguay, the same vocational training centre where she learned her trade. For her, being successful in a traditionally male-dominated trade is a matter of tenacity, willingness…and not being afraid to get your hands dirty!

Initially, Amy wanted to be a heavy equipment operator. After high school, she tried to enroll in a training program geared towards excavation work, only to realize she was not eligible because she was not yet 18. She registered in the DVS for Welding to pass the time before she was old enough.

A New Generation of Women

Being a woman in a male-dominated field has never been an issue for Amy. "I grew up surrounded by guy friends.

"A traditionally male-dominated trade? It never crossed my mind." In fact, being the only woman pushed her to work harder. "When I started the Welding and Fitting program, other girls were attending the school, but I was the only girl in a group of 24 students."

"Being petite, I'm only 5 feet tall and 102 pounds, I had to work hard to earn the respect of certain male colleagues." Was she a victim of discrimination? "There are always those guys who are mean or bullies," she admits. "But at the same time, there are always good guys who are there for me, father figures who protect me. I was close to my teachers in my class, and my best friend was…54 years old!"

Overcoming Learning Disabilities

Amy grew up in the country. She was born in Huntingdon, near Valleyfield in the Montérégie region, a village of 2,400 inhabitants. As a child, she naturally developed an interest in outdoor sports: motocross, four-wheeling, and paintball. Her francophone mother is a stay-at-home mom, and her anglophone father is a machinery mechanic.  

Elementary school and high school were not easy for this young woman. "My academic journey was a challenge in concentration, especially in math, because I was diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder). I didn't have many friends; I was shy. It was difficult." Difficult, but not impossible. "I got good grades through hard work, remedial help, and determination. I worked hard to succeed."

Working Overtime

Amy Ovans is no stranger to hard work. To finish her DVS in Welding at the NOVA Career Centre, she had to travel to Châteauguay five days a week, driving one hour morning and night in her truck. But this was never an issue for the young woman. "At NOVA, I took like a fish to water," she says. "My school became my second home. I was comfortable, and I had good professional teachers who helped me feel like I belonged."

Amy did so well that her teachers allowed her to begin the STC in High-Pressure Welding before completing her DVS. She started doing this specialization during night classes.

During those three months, Amy doubled the time she dedicated to her studies, spending twelve hours a day at school, five days a week. "I worked hard, but I finished both programs three months earlier. Welding taught me to trust myself!" Fortunately, Amy has always had the support of her parents, whom she still credits as a great source of encouragement in helping her complete her education. After all of her hard work, she was selected as valedictorian of her high-pressure pipe welding class.

Hats Off to Amy!

Amy won the Hats Off to You! "Prize for a Student in Vocational Training from the Québec English School Boards Association" at the 19^th annual ceremony in 2015.

She used the $2,000 bursary to enroll in the Level 1 Welding Inspection certification. The Hats Off to You! contest aims to promote diversity in career choices for young girls and women and encourage those who wish to venture off the beaten track to persevere until they graduate. The contest is for female students in secondary vocational training and college technical training.

"My school became my second home. I was comfortable, and I had good professional teachers who helped me feel like I belonged."

Trade: Welder-Fitter

After her DVS, Amy did her internship at the company where her father works. "I learned to work on my own and gain speed." She then worked in the aerospace industry in Montreal for four years, welding titanium and special materials before joining the team at Rawtek Performance Fabrication.

As the only female welder in these companies, her journey has not always been smooth sailing, as is often the case in non-traditional trades for women. But her personal and professional qualities have helped her fit in. Today, Amy fabricates and welds high-performance exhaust system parts for diesel cars. "It's a job that may seem repetitive, but it's not because the projects vary so much. There's also the satisfaction that comes with seeing the result of your work."

Teaching the Passion of the Profession

Since 2020, Amy has been teaching at the very same school where she studied. While the boys are sometimes surprised to see a young 23-year-old woman show up to teach them the basics, it is not long before they realize Amy has mastered the trade. "As a teacher, I enjoy watching students progress. Just like watching a child grow and learn, it is very rewarding, especially for those who work hard."

When students struggle or second-guess their career choice, Amy is always there to lend an ear. "I like talking to them and encouraging them not to abandon their dreams." Her message to young women considering a non-traditional trade like welding? "It's less intimidating than it seems. It is a great trade that has evolved a lot; it is demanding but rewarding, with a bright future."

 

"I gained confidence and dexterity. The more you practice, the better you become. This trade requires coordination, and you must be meticulous."

In the months and years ahead, Amy will be celebrating the wedding she had to postpone due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and she will be starting the university course that will allow her to teach full-time. She is enjoying life to the fullest. "I would not change a thing about my journey," she says.

"In my trade, you cannot be afraid to work with your hands and get dirty. When faced with challenges, you cannot hesitate to turn to others for help."