"I wish someone had introduced me to the skilled trades earlier.”

Some kids grow up dreaming of becoming firefighters. Others want to be rockstars, athletes, or astronauts. But Danielle Robb – homeschooled until the age of 11 by her mother, a social worker – had no such aspirations. “I was never asked what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Danielle said. “So, I never really thought about it!”

From Midwifery to Millwrighting

The end of high school forced Danielle to make a decision, any decision, about what was next for her. Intrigued by the midwife profession, she applied to all three schools in Ontario offering the ultra-competitive program, including Laurentian University in Sudbury.

When she didn't secure a spot, Danielle opted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and started a degree in social work, later switching to a double major in Women's Studies and Classical Studies in 2011

This period was a time of exploration and discovery, but deep down, Danielle knew these paths weren't her calling.

"I enjoyed my studies, but I couldn't see myself building a career in those fields," she said.

The Pivot to Trades

After university, while working full-time in retail at a fabric store, Danielle felt the urge for something more fulfilling. "I wanted to do better and knew I could,” she said. “I just had to figure out what that was." 

Her search for a meaningful and engaging career led her to consider the trades, a sector she had little exposure to but that piqued her interest.

The decision to become a millwright wasn't immediate but evolved from a process of self-reflection and practical consideration. "The more I learned about millwrighting, the more it appealed to me,” she said. “It's a profession that demands problem-solving, creativity and technical skill, all of which I was eager to develop."

Embracing the Challenge

Entering the trades as a woman – and woman of colour, at that - in a field as demanding and male-dominated as millwrighting was not without its challenges. Beginning her apprenticeship at Creighton Mine in Sudbury in 2020, Danielle found herself navigating an entirely new world, one that required technical skills and the ability to work within a team dynamic that was not accustomed to female presence.

"Starting my apprenticeship was a reality check,” she said. “I immediately had to get used to longer workdays, wearing PPE and working alongside men who were 10 to 30 years older than me who had to get used to working with a woman for the first time in their lives!”

Despite the hurdles, Danielle thrived. Buoyed by her determination and the support of those who recognized her talent and work ethic, she completed her apprenticeship and is preparing to take the Red Seal exam – an examination of knowledge and skills considered to be the “final exam” for tradespeople.

The Red Seal Exam is an exam that tests your knowledge of trade activities. It is used by all provinces and territories to issue a Red Seal endorsement. Most of them use the Red Seal Exam to issue trade certification. In many ways, it is the “final exam” for tradespeople. -  

“The crew I was on really let me take the reins when I was comfortable,” Danielle said. “That led me to feel confident that I had made the right career choice and that I could do this forever.”

Looking Forward

Looking back, Danielle wishes there had been more encouragement for young women to explore careers in trades.

"I wish someone had introduced me to the world of trades earlier, asking me if I had ever wanted to learn how to weld or how an engine works."

Driven by her belief that early exposure can ignite a passion for a career they might have not considered, Danielle has become a fervent advocate for diversifying career awareness and mentorship for young girls and people of colour.

“While I’m happy with how things turned out for me, I’d like to help kickstart that journey for anyone else who wants in," she said.

Danielle’s message to women everywhere, especially young Black women, is powerful and clear: "I hope that every woman, anywhere, will be able to say, ‘Don’t be surprised that I can do what you do,” she said. “Don’t be surprised that the next woman that comes along can too."