Kylia Mulvee

The following is a letter sent to me by Kylia Mulvee following her recent graduation from the REACH Program (July 7, 2023).

The previous year (2022) had been one of the hardest of my life and left me in a situation that I had the option to sink or swim - I promised myself I would swim no matter what obstacles came my way. In December of 2022 I attended Tools in the Trades Boot Camp, a one day trades workshop where I met David Young (Reach Program Manager). It was definitely coincidental to say the least, he had come to discuss REACH Innovation with the participants and left a stack of business cards. I took one and spent the following weekend contemplating whether or not I should put in an application; considering that I have depression and anxiety and that I am single mom with two kids under four years old. As I came to lean the entire program was targeted towards people with barriers.

After exchanging emails and zoom calls, David offered me a spot in the program and ultimately came down to my decision if I wanted to participate. I wanted to get into electrical and the program is construction/renovation - meaning the electrical sector is a small part of the entire program, and I may have more of an advantage getting an apprenticeship by going through the pre-apprenticeship program at Niagara College. However, in spite of all, I somehow knew to accept the seat with REACH.

Flash forward to April 2023, while in the Reach program I had been applying and had been turned down by 20+ electrical companies for an apprenticeship. I was losing hope and felt maybe I made the wrong decision, or maybe I’m not meant to be an electrician?

During the program we were introduced to a non-profit organisation that supports people seeking careers in the skilled trades, known as ApprenticeSearch.com, and could assist in finding an apprenticeship and supply many great resources. David went one step further and set up that the representatives from ApprenticeSearch.com come in and talk to the class about the opportunities and guidance they provide to applicants. 

I signed up with them and the outcome was great, I came across many employers, submitted resumes, but ultimately arrived at the same recurring problem of apprentice/tradesperson ratios where the employers kept telling me they don’t have the required number of journeymen to take on another apprentice at this time or they are looking for 2nd to 3rd year apprentices, or in some cases they need someone with greater education and skill sets.

One of the representatives who attended Reach was the same person that had been working with me in finding an apprenticeship, and so while talking with her further she invited me to participate in a related opportunity and asked if I would like to represent ApprenticeSearch.com at the Skilled Trades Ontario Summit on May 3, 2023, in Toronto - which also happened to be my birthday. I quickly said yes, then doubted myself as usual, because it entailed talking to a crowd of people I didn’t know, on a stage with lights and cameras, most importantly on the day I hated the most, my own birthday. 

Somehow, by the grace of God, in spite of my anxiety and hesitation, I made it to Toronto, got on the stage with the panel, spoke (only wanted to throw up a couple of times, but I didn’t).

After the summit, I was greeted with many positive comments like, ‘you are a natural speaking to large crowds’, ‘you are such a devoted, strong mother, truly inspirational’, ‘I can’t wait to see you become the electrician you are meant to be’. Not only was I showered with positive remarks, but I was offered apprenticeships with different employers. 

All the hard work felt like it had finally paid off. Yet, it was just the beginning of more applications, emails and paperwork. As I moved further along in the process and closer to securing a possible apprenticeship, came the awareness of certain high school course grades that were needed and possible upgrading of these high school courses, etc. I again felt this idea of becoming an electrician was never going to come true. 

One day I received an email to contact the head of the IBEW Local 303 located in Niagara Falls (a contact I made while in Toronto) and through this contact, my current relationship and work with REACH, and Apprenticesearch.com, I applied for and secured one of the eight available seats in their first ever Job Readiness Course, which leads into an apprenticeship in the electrical union (IBEW 303).

As I type this mini biography of myself, I realise I am now a graduate of REACH Innovation, a graduate of the IBEW Apprentice Job Readiness Course, and I am now working with the IBEW Local 303 as a registered electrical apprentice.

Life for me ended and has now begun all over again, thanks to all those who have helped me get here.

None of this would’ve been possible without David, Paul, Kyle, the participants, and everyone who rooted for me on when I didn’t believe in myself. 

Sincerely, Kylia Mulvee Your favourite sparky ️

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