A priority for Manitoba Construction Sector Council’s (MCSC) training programs in the north is ensuring instructors teach beyond the textbooks. The council knows the impact of a great instructor can be felt not only in the classroom, but in the confidence that their students carry with them afterward. For Sydney Lathlin, a participant of the Green Building Program (a new training partnership between MCSC and Assiniboine College),  the experience comes down to trust, connection, and learning together. “I like my instructor, she’s very informative,” shares Sydney.

Annette Head is Sydney’s instructor. Born and raised in Manitoba’s north, and as Manitoba’s first ever female Indigenous Red Seal carpenter, that all helps facilitate immediate trust and respect with students of all genders.

“I’m like a momma bear,” boasts Annette with a hardy, but determined laugh. “I’m not only a teacher, I’m also like a mother. I’m protecting them and guiding them,” shares Head. Annette adds that she understands that entering the trades can sometimes feel intimidating, particularly for students who may not immediately see themselves reflected in those spaces. As a woman in carpentry, she uses her own experiences to create a welcoming environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and building confidence.

“My goal is to get our people into the trades,” Annette says. “It might not be carpentry, but it would be nice to get that mindset into them because that’s one thing we’re lacking in our communities.”

An MCSC instructor for over 10 years, Annette shares her teaching style is grounded in honesty and humility. Instead of presenting herself as someone who always has all the answers, she connects through personal stories. “I didn’t know how to work a circular saw,” she admits when she first started out on construction sites. “I’ll tell them a story about that, then I’ll show them how to use that circular saw.”

By sharing her own learning journey, she reminds students that confidence is built one step at a time. Annette hopes students continue beyond introductory training and discover opportunities in the skilled trades.

That approach is reflected in other MCSC instructors like Ritchie Franzen, a Red Seal carpenter who has worked with MCSC since 2021 and has spent more than a decade of building experience in the trades. For Ritchie, the work has always been about much more than teaching technical skills. “Making that connection with the younger people and getting them excited,” says Ritchie about his strategy to get participants engaged.

Ritchie believes education should inspire people to see possibilities for themselves, but also remain realistic. As an Indigenous instructor working in First Nations communities and remote locations, that experience has taught him an important lesson that adaptability matters.

“As a carpenter, I tell everybody we are going to be problem solvers for the rest of our lives,” Ritchie says. “What may seem simple, like building a house—you’ve got a blueprint, like a recipe for a cake—but what they’re not going to tell you is all the challenges that are going to happen along the way.”

He teaches students that challenges are inevitable, but preparation, teamwork, and quick thinking make all the difference. Ritchie also believes growth has no age limit. “It’s never too late to pick up some new skills or tune up some of the skills you already have,” encourages Ritchie. Visit MCSC’s website anytime www.mbcsc.com, and you find all kinds of training opportunities available to communities across the north and all of Manitoba.

Stories like Ritchie’s and Annette’s reveal why MCSC instructors in the north are so well-liked and respected. Students remember more than lessons or assignments. They remember the people who encouraged them, challenged them, and believed in them.