Build a Dream

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Build a Dream We attract, encourage, and empower female students to pursue careers in STEM WHY WE EXIST?

We create programs that will encourage young women to consider various career opportunities and make informed decisions. We develop partnerships with sectors to offer hands on camps for young women to experiences these job sectors. We help provide the right tools, resources, and mentorship to young women. We also provide parents with the tools to help their children make informed career choices. Consults with companies in various sectors to help them diversify their workforce.

As we gear up for our 5th Annual Dreamer Day, we can’t help but look back at where it all began. 💜A lot has changed over...
10/23/2026

As we gear up for our 5th Annual Dreamer Day, we can’t help but look back at where it all began. 💜

A lot has changed over the years, but one thing has always stayed the same: our belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to see what’s possible for their future.

Five years of opening doors, inspiring dreams, and creating opportunities for the next generation.

And behind it all? An incredible team that continues to bring this vision to life.

Here’s to how far we’ve come and all that’s still ahead! 🚀

See you October 29!

More incredible speakers are being revealed for Dreamer Day 2026! 🎤💜
The excitement continues to build as we get closer ...
10/22/2026

More incredible speakers are being revealed for Dreamer Day 2026! 🎤💜

The excitement continues to build as we get closer to October 29, and we’re thrilled to introduce three more inspiring leaders joining us for our 5th Annual Dreamer Day!
From nuclear energy and engineering to economic development and workplace inclusion, these women are breaking barriers, driving change, and helping shape the future of Canada’s workforce.

MEET OUR NEXT ROUND OF SPEAKERS! 👇

💜 Kate Paul | Employment Equity and Inclusion Specialist, Bruce Power
After spending nearly 12 years as a Nuclear Response Team Officer, Kate followed her passion for inclusion into Human Resources. Today, she’s helping remove workplace barriers and create opportunities for people to thrive in the nuclear industry, proving that career paths don’t always follow a straight line.

💜 Jennifer Burnham | General Manager and Vice President, Enbridge Gas Ontario
With more than 28 years of experience at Enbridge, Jennifer has built an impressive career across engineering, operations, construction, strategy, and executive leadership. As a Professional Engineer and senior leader in Ontario’s energy sector, she’s helping shape the future of energy while championing inclusive workplaces and strong leadership.

💜 Christina Kakaflikas | Director, Invest Mississauga
With more than 25 years of experience in economic development, Christina is helping drive investment, innovation, and business growth in one of Canada’s largest cities. Through her leadership at Invest Mississauga, she’s creating connections between business, talent, and opportunity while helping shape the region’s economic future.

At Dreamer Day, students don’t just hear about career opportunities. They get to meet the people who are building industries, leading organizations, challenging expectations, and showing the next generation what’s possible.

📅 October 29, 2026
📍 The International Centre, Mississauga
🎟️ Educators and school communities, limited tickets remain!

👉 Secure your students’ spots today at DreamerDay.ca

Behind every opportunity to dream bigger are organizations committed to making it possible. 💜As we prepare for our 5th A...
10/20/2026

Behind every opportunity to dream bigger are organizations committed to making it possible. 💜

As we prepare for our 5th Annual Dreamer Day, we’re taking a moment to recognize the incredible sponsors and partners helping bring this experience to life.

On October 29, thousands of Grades 7–12 students will come together to explore career pathways, connect with industry professionals, experience hands-on learning, and discover possibilities they may never have imagined for themselves.

And experiences like these don’t happen without organizations that believe in investing in the next generation.

To our incredible sponsors and partners: THANK YOU.
Thank you for believing that career exploration should start early.

Thank you for recognizing the importance of representation, mentorship, and creating opportunities for young people to see themselves in industries they may never have considered.

And thank you for helping us build meaningful connections between today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce.

Because the impact of Dreamer Day goes far beyond one event.

It’s in the student who discovers a new passion.
The conversation that challenges what someone thought they were capable of.
The hands-on experience that sparks curiosity.
And the moment a young person realizes, “There’s a place for me in that industry.”

That’s the future we’re building together.

And now, we’re just days away from making it happen all over again!

🚨 DREAMER DAY 2026 IS 90% SOLD OUT!

With limited tickets remaining, now is the time to secure your students’ spots for a day filled with career exploration, inspiring speakers, hands-on experiences, and meaningful industry connections.

📅 October 29, 2026
📍 The International Centre, Mississauga
🎟️ Educators, school boards, and parents: Don’t miss this opportunity to show your students what’s possible.

👉 PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY at DreamerDay.ca before they’re gone!

You Belong Here. 💜

10/19/2026

“You have to grow to be fearless.”

Sometimes, finding the right career means having the courage to take a completely different path.

Meet Victoria Battams, Red Seal Automotive Service Technician, who has spent 17 years building a career in an industry where women weren’t always welcomed or represented.

Victoria’s journey began in university, where she found herself questioning whether the path she was on was right for her.

Looking out her dorm room window at the trades building, she began imagining a different future. One where she could work with her hands, build practical skills, and pursue something she genuinely enjoyed.

But choosing the skilled trades was only the beginning.
When Victoria entered the automotive industry, female representation was extremely limited. Employers struggled to envision women working in their shops, opportunities were difficult to secure, and she faced assumptions about her abilities before she could demonstrate them.

She wasn’t just learning a trade. She was challenging an industry to see her differently.

Over time, Victoria built her skills, earned her place, and discovered that barriers can begin to break down when people look beyond their assumptions.

Her story challenges the idea that university is the only pathway to success and highlights the incredible opportunities available through skilled trades careers.

Because women shouldn’t have to prove they belong before they’re given the opportunity to succeed.

At Build a Dream, we believe changing the future of skilled trades means increasing visibility, challenging stereotypes, connecting women with career pathways, and creating opportunities for long-term success.

Victoria’s story reminds us that representation matters, not only for women entering the trades today, but for the next generation wondering whether there’s a place for them, too.

And her advice?

Be fearless. Keep going. Believe in what you’re capable of, even when others haven’t caught up yet.

Because every woman who challenges expectations helps create more possibilities for those coming next.

Learn more about Build a Dream’s programs and career o

You may have recognized her from the stage at yesterday’s International Day of the Girl Leadership Breakfast… and we’re ...
10/15/2026

You may have recognized her from the stage at yesterday’s International Day of the Girl Leadership Breakfast… and we’re so excited to welcome her back to the stage at Dreamer Day 2026! 💜

Meet Layah Omar, Build a Dream Ambassador and Youth Voice! 🎤

A Grade 11 student at Holy Names, Layah has a passion for biology, reading, soccer and creative writing. She’s even competed at Nationals in the U.S.! Most recently, she shared her powerful voice through poetry at our International Day of the Girl Leadership Breakfast, and on October 29, she’ll be bringing that same inspiration to Dreamer Day!

But Layah’s story with Build a Dream started long before she stepped onto the stage.

12 years ago, Layah was one of Build a Dream’s very first models. What began as an opportunity to represent young girls and their potential has come full circle, as she now returns as an ambassador, inspiring the next generation to dream big and find their own voices.

Her journey is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. The young girls we inspire today become the leaders, changemakers and voices of tomorrow. 💜

We can’t wait to welcome Layah to the Dreamer Day 2026 stage on October 29 at The International Centre in Mississauga!

Join us in celebrating Layah and the next generation of young women shaping our future! ✨

Yesterday, Emily from our BK Cornerstone team attended International Day of the Girl Breakfast, Women Leading Canada’s...
10/15/2026

Yesterday, Emily from our BK Cornerstone team attended International Day of the Girl Breakfast, Women Leading Canada’s Future. 💜

An inspiring and eye-opening morning filled with conversations about leadership, opportunity, and the future of Canada's workforce.

It's encouraging to see more women finding their place in traditionally male-dominated industries like construction, manufacturing, and the skilled trades. But one of the biggest takeaways from the morning was that progress isn't just about encouraging women to enter these spaces. It's also about ensuring the environments they're entering are ready to support them.

Mentorship, representation, and having people who help us see what's possible are incredibly important. So is creating workplace cultures where different perspectives are welcomed, opportunities are accessible, and everyone has room to grow.

Thank you to Build a Dream and the incredible speakers and panelists for creating space for meaningful conversations and reminding us that building a stronger future starts with the people who will shape it.

10/15/2026

A wonderful BUILD A DREAM breakfast celebrating the International Day of the Girl. Thank you Nour Hachem for all that you’ve built. The first event was in our ballroom with local businesses and students. 12 years later you’re a force to be reckoned with. Congratulations!

10/14/2026

“No one thought I could ever climb a tower again. And I proved them wrong.” 💪

Meet Kendra Serechin, Powerline Technician, who has spent nearly eight years building a career in one of the most physically demanding skilled trades.

Her journey was anything but straightforward.

After exploring electrical and arborist career pathways, Kendra became the first woman to graduate from the Powerline Technician program at St. Clair College’s Chatham campus.

But graduating was only the beginning.

Despite her qualifications and determination, finding an opportunity wasn’t easy. She faced rejection, limited representation, and assumptions about what women were capable of doing in the field.

She knew she belonged. She just needed someone to give her the opportunity to prove it.

Today, Kendra works on transmission lines, climbing towers as high as 200 feet, carrying heavy equipment, and completing essential work that keeps our communities powered.

And after three knee surgeries, she’s continued proving that setbacks don’t have to define what’s possible.

But her story also highlights an important conversation about inclusion.

Creating opportunities for women in the trades means more than opening the door. It means ensuring workplaces, equipment, and safety standards support everyone who walks through it.

From properly fitting harnesses to challenging outdated perceptions, meaningful change requires industries to recognize and respond to the needs of a diverse workforce.

At Build a Dream, we believe women like Kendra are helping reshape the future of skilled trades by challenging stereotypes, creating visibility, and showing the next generation what’s possible.

Because representation isn’t just about being the first.
It’s about making sure you’re not the last.

And Kendra’s advice to anyone considering a career in the trades?

“If that’s your dream, if that’s what you wanna do, don’t give up.”

Explore Build a Dream’s programs and career opportunities: https://www.webuildadream.com/programs

Address

215 Eugenie Street W, Suite 101
Windsor, ON
N8X2X7

Telephone

+15198001222

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Build a Dream posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Build a Dream:

Shortcuts

Share

Category