TRAINEE SUCCESS STORIES
Raising the Roof is committed to the success of the trainees that work on our housing projects through our social enterprise partners. Below you will learn about their stories and how the construction industry can help people with barriers to employment find meaningful careers in the trades.
Purpose Construction Trainee
TRUDY
Trudy started with Purpose Construction in September 2023 and was one of the youth who gained hands on trades training working on Butterfly Lodge in Winnipeg.
Trudy comes from a history of gang affiliation, drug use and incarceration, a part of their life they are eager to leave behind. “I’m very grateful because as a teenager this [construction] is something I wanted to do before taking that other path to drinking, doing drugs, and involving my life in gang affiliation, which was me not being grateful, and making mistakes in my life.”
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For Trudy, the hands-on work experience helped build confidence, and working alongside others with similar life experience helped build comfort and community. Training program participants are given the opportunity to smudge daily, as well as opportunities to attend sweat lodges and teachings from elders. “The fact that I can smudge on site and that Purpose [Construction] allows that? I am so happy,” says Trudy.
After completing the training program, Trudy immediately started a job with ParkWest Projects.
When asked about what it meant to them to be working on Butterfly Lodge, Trudy said,
It is something I can actually be proud of. I’m learning actual skills I can carry with me for a lifetime. It’s going to continue to give me that meaning and purpose that I am giving back to community – and that makes me feel really good.”
Purpose Construction Trainee
MICHAEL
Purpose Construction met Michael in September 2023 when he joined our Purpose Homes training program.
Coming from a history of incarceration, Michael heard about the Purpose Homes training program and thought it sounded like an opportunity for new beginning. He was “looking for something you can make your own and never look back.”
While Michael was raised around his culture, he fell out of practicing it. Reconnecting with his culture was really important to him, and has been a big part of his healing journey. Today, Michael dances the Grass dance at Pow Wow, and he says it’s home to him.
Michael has appreciated the sense of community and support he received through the Purpose Homes training program. Learning and working alongside people with similar life experiences has been an important part the program.
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Michael has two daughters. He sends them videos of him working on-site, and they think it’s cool. He says it gives them a sense of pride – “my dad builds houses.”
“You know, it’s something I can actually be proud of and something I can actually tell my kids about instead of … every other year getting locked up, spending time in jail,” says Michael, “Now I get to go home and see my kids every day and get to tell them what I’m doing and being excited, knowing that I don’t have to hide my life no more.”
“All you need is just people willing to give you the time,” says Michael. And Michael made good use of his time with Purpose, proving himself to be a hard worker with a great sense of humour. Michael is someone who lights up the worksite, always encouraging the people around him.
After completing the 6-month Purpose Homes training program, they were proud to be able to offer Michael a full-time staff position with Purpose Construction. Michael will continue to advance his skills in construction, while providing mentorship and support to future generations of Purpose Homes trainees.
We’re just being supportive of each other and knowing where we came from kind of gives us all someone to lean on, right?
Because we’re all struggling with the same things.
It’s really good to have someone to talk to about it.”
• Michael, Purpose Construction Trainee