Angela Coldwell is a wife, mother, and recipient of the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence. She acknowledges that she began her teaching career with a limited view of post-secondary education, assuming it only included college or university programs. Her perspective changed dramatically after a conversation with a talented grade 10 science student who wanted to become an electrician. Initially, she thought his best option was to pursue electrical engineering. However, the student enjoyed hands-on work and was not interested in more classroom-based education. This experience made Angela realize that a career as an electrician could offer as much, if not more, opportunity than an engineering career.
Inspired by this, Angela founded Honour The Work to help educators teaching grades 1-6 deliver the Alberta curriculum through multidisciplinary, hands-on activities and real-world examples, connecting these lessons to careers in skilled trades. By incorporating diverse children’s books into their STEAM program, Honour The Work ensures that students of all genders, cultures, and ages see themselves represented. Through their
social media and
website, they promote apprenticeships as an equitable post-secondary option that utilizes STEM skills and connects Canadians to tools and resources so that they can embark on their own journey into the trades.
