Wednesday, March 4, 2026

#WomenWednesday - Hayley Hoffman

Meet Hayley Hoffman, a Local 63 member, steamfitter/pipefitter with OCL Group Inc., and 4th-year apprentice.

Hayley grew up surrounded by the trades. Her dad was a sheet welding instructor and HVAC specialist, and her sister is a Red Seal welder. Even though she didn’t originally plan to enter the trades, once she started she knew she’d found the right fit--and she hasn’t looked back since.

One thing that surprised her most on the job is how much problem-solving matters.

“I may not be the strongest or biggest person in the field, but this job has taught me to think outside the box," says Hayley. "There’s more than one way to get a job done.”

One proud moment stands out: completing her first outage as a lead hand: a major milestone and a big step forward in her career.

Her advice to women considering the trades:

“Don’t be afraid to try something just because you don’t know how to do it yet. Everyone starts at the bottom, and growth is the only way up.”

Hayley also shared something we hear often: “There’s a lot of women out there that want to enroll in the trades, but don’t have any experience and cannot get hired. Women want to work in construction! We just need more opportunities for new entrants to get their foot in the door.”

Interested in the trades? SWIC can help you on your journey. Learn more at clac.ca/swic.

#WomenWednesday - Hayley Hoffman

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