Titans of Trade promotes career paths

By Kaicheng Xin
Staff Reporter

The Rocky Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Alberta government and the Alberta Chambers of Commerce, hosted its first trades-focused job fair in at least six years on March 13, drawing hundreds of attendees to the Lou Soppit Community Centre.

Approximately 300 students, job-seekers and community members explored 15 booths at the Titans of Trade event. It featured some interactive workshops like metal model car fabrication in the meeting room. Attendees could try tools, engage with trades professionals and explore career pathways.

Michelle Meatheringham, executive director of the Rocky Chamber, called the event a “tremendous success.” 
She emphasized the fair’s role in retaining local talent.

“Having [youth] stay in our community to do a trade is much more valuable … rather than having to try and recruit them or others back.”

The event marked the chamber’s first large-scale trades initiative since Meatheringham joined six years ago, though she noted it may have been even longer since a similar effort was last held.

“It’s a great start to something we can work on,” Meatheringham said. 

Jamie McMillan, one of the keynote speakers, explained her life has been anything but ordinary, marked by challenges and triumphs that have shaped her into the resilient individual she is today. Reflecting on her journey, McMillan shared how perseverance and courage helped her overcome life’s toughest mountains.

Recounting her challenges, from enduring bullying at school to facing setbacks after dropping out of high school, McMillan found herself searching for purpose.

After quitting school, she found herself lost until the trades offered her a way forward.

McMillan excelled in her career, becoming a certified welder, boilermaker and eventually a supervisor — thanks to her company’s support in funding her education.

She shares, “Years in gas and oil, and I started working with boiler raters. Then I became a foreman and a joint health and safety rep.”

But her story doesn’t stop at career success.

Passionate about inspiring others, McMillan began speaking in schools, advocating for skilled trades as an alternative path.

“Not everybody is cut out for college or university,” she explains. “For some of us,