This New Campaign Empowering Women In The Painting Trades

Get your brushes out! Behr Paint Company’s new Women in Paint program is designed to celebrate and empower Canadian women in the painting trades. This exciting initiative highlights the achievements of women in the industry while inspiring the next generation to explore fulfilling careers in the trades. We chatted with contractor and TV personality Kate Campbell, who will serve as a spokesperson and mentor, to learn more. —Noa Nichol

What initially inspired you to pursue a career in the trades, and how did you discover your passion for painting and construction?

I was always an athletic student – I played every sport I could, which kept me active.  I didn’t know what I wanted to do after I graduated, but the one thing I did know is that I wanted to find a career where “I didn’t have to sit behind a desk all day.” It was my mom who found a newspaper article in our local paper advertising a Women in Skilled Trades course being offered to 20 lucky applicants, and she suggested I look into applying.  I did and after I was accepted, I remember being there the first week, picking up a power tool for the first time and having a lightbulb moment as I realized I had found something that I was really passionate about.  That course was my springboard into the industry and my ‘boot’ in the door that I needed to confidently get started in the trades.

As the spokesperson and mentor for the Women in Paint™ initiative, what message do you hope to share with women considering a career in the painting trades?

I hope to convey the message that women can have a successful, fulfilling and lucrative career in the trades industry. It can be daunting trying something new, especially something that has traditionally been ‘a man’s job’ but I’m here to say more and more women are entering the trades every day, we support each other, and we have each other’s backs. 

Can you share a personal story or challenge you’ve faced as a woman in the trades, and how overcoming it shaped your journey?

I’ve often been one of, if not the only woman on site.  It’s lonely at times and it makes it harder to feel seen and understood. It took me a while to feel comfortable leaning on my fellow crew members for support and if I couldn’t, then I just hadn’t found my people.  In an industry where women still only represent about 6-8% of the skilled trades force, you need allies that are male and, in my experience, there are tons of them. I got into the trades before social media was a huge part of our lives and I’ve found it’s so much easier to find, identify and connect with tradeswomen on social media platforms, which has alleviated some of the feelings of loneliness. 

Mentorship is a key element of the Women in Paint™ initiative. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the painting trades, and how has mentorship impacted your own career?

My advice would be to find other women in the industry and reach out to them. Connect with them and ask them questions. I would also say, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Early in my career, I often took myself out of learning situations because I was too afraid to look like I didn’t know what I was doing. Unfortunately for me, those scenarios are the biggest teachers, so I was delaying my learning by being timid and self-conscious. I eventually realized that EVERYONE makes mistakes and they’re our biggest teachers and found the confidence to jump in. Mentorship helped me realize that I was getting in my own way. Sometimes we need someone who has ‘been there and done that’ to open our eyes to new ways of thinking. 

With the series of pro workshops in collaboration with The Home Depot Canada, what can participants expect to learn, and how do you see these workshops fostering the next generation of women in the trades?

In order to support this theme of mentorship among women in the trades, Behr is looking to provide women starting out in the industry with an opportunity to engage and network at a community level. Through these pro workshops, they will be able to hear from accomplished Canadian women professionals who can share their unique perspectives, key learnings and inspiring stories. In collaboration with The Home Depot Canada, they will also offer valuable information and resources to support women who are considering or just beginning a career in the trades, helping them take their first steps with confidence.

What do you believe are the most significant misconceptions about women working in trades like painting, and how does Women in Paint™ aim to challenge those perceptions?

I think some of the biggest misconceptions are that the trades aren’t for women, that they’re “too dangerous”, “too dirty”, or “for unsuccessful or uneducated people” – in my experience, the most successful people I know are trades people, they have high job satisfaction and love what they do. Women in Paint aims to promote the skilled trades and painting trades are lucrative, fulfilling career paths – the painting trade especially for women because it’s an extremely detail-oriented trade (a skillset that women generally possess), the results are tangible and have a huge visual impact in a short period of time (which is extremely satisfying to both the painter and the client) and for the most part there’s not a ton of heavy lifting, but you’re still keeping active.  

The Women in Paint™ contest offers a one-on-one mentorship with you. What qualities will you be looking for in the winner, and how do you envision guiding them through this exciting opportunity?

I’ve never offered a one-on-one mentorship opportunity like this so it’s extremely exciting for me and after almost 20 years in the trades, I’ve learned a thing or two. I envision the winner being someone who is highly ambitious and self-motivated, someone who is eager to learn and someone who isn’t afraid to work hard. Throughout my career, I’ve given talks across the country speaking about the skilled trades and have connected with so many industry professionals from all different walks of life with their own stories to share.  I hope to be able to support the winner however I can by sharing my own stories but also by sharing the knowledge I’ve gleaned from others along the way. I hope that the winner becomes not only someone I help guide and support, but I hope they become a friend as well.

What’s your all-time fave paint colour – or, if you could create the paint colour of your dreams, what would it be?

I have always loved peacock blue, teal, turquoise, jewel tones. Something along the lines of this colour was in one of the main rooms of one of the old century homes I renovated and since then it’s always been my favorite bold colour choice.