NWR

parts of the country or world,” he added. WBF prepares women through a course that clearly outlines what to expect from a trades-based career and then NWR facilitates entry into an apprenticeship program at the refinery. “Because they’re so wellprepared, there isn’t a high rate of failure,” MacGregor explained. “If I feel good about anything, it’s probably that. These are good jobs. What we are building is not just a commercial enterprise; it’s a social enterprise too and you don’t have to sacrifice the commerciality to do the right thing socially,” he said. “Good jobs for Alberta women are the right thing to do.” PROGRAM IS CHANGING LIVES Among a recent graduating class of ironworkers were 11 women who had gone through the program. MacGregor remembers speaking to one of the graduates, an Aboriginal woman who had struggled with a difficult past and been living in “dire circumstances” before she learned about WBF. Today, she is an ironworker and on a path to personal and financial success. “Anything you can do like that, you’re just feeling great,” he said. MacGregor’s hope is to keep the profits from oil refining close to home, creating jobs and helping to pay for essentials such grahambuilds.com FEBRUARY 2017 H business elite canada 13

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTE4MTQ=