We are now seeing the influence of mothers working in the skilled trades with their daughters now following them onto the worksites.
For Stacie Roussain, she was raised in a home where both of her parents worked at Algoma Steel in Sault Ste Marie. Algoma Steel manufactures and sells hot and cold rolled steel products around the world and has been operating in the community for over 120 years.
Roussain is a leveller and bed operator in the plate and strip hot mill. It is the last stage of the rolling process to ensure the steel sheet is flat and smooth.
“When we roll the steel out, it starts at eight inches thick, and then we roll it down to the proper gauge. Once it’s rolled through at the height, we give it one pass at the leveller, and it makes it nice and flat,” she explained. “The bed part is when we send it down to the finishing end for them to either put on a truck or do further processes to it.”
As a teenager, Roussain worked during her school break at the mill. Summer jobs were only offered to the children of workers at the time and allowed them the opportunity to become familiar with the safety requirements and mill operations.
After high school, she went off to college, not really sure what she wanted to pursue as a career; however, she returned during her breaks at college and eventually took a full-time position.
Roussain said she likes the decision-making aspect of her work.
“When you’re operating a machine of some sort on our line of sequence, whether it’s the leveller or the pusher, you’re trying to roll a bar and something is happening with the mechanics of the machine, you have to make decisions to save the bar or another choice,” she said. “And that’s when I like it.”
Her mother spent 20 years working in the mill before taking an administrative position in the company for another 25 years. At home, her mother would share what it was like working on the floor and the importance of a positive and supportive foreman.
“I think my mom really had to deal with the harder parts of it. She’s given me a little bit of insight on that, but the atmosphere has changed with women in the workforce, especially in the steel industry.”
Today, with over 20 people in her department, they have five or six women on the team. It may seem like a small number, but considering how far they have come in 20 years, it’s actually progress. Algoma Steel has a number of female engineers, female board members and in all areas of operations.
Roussain shared that every day something new happens. It’s always a new learning experience for her and not a typical Monday-to-Friday, 9-to-5 job. She is busy and loves that part.
As the company modernizes its plate mill and adopts electric arc technology to address carbon emissions, she is enjoying the change and learning aspects of the transition.
“It’s not for everybody, but I think if you try something new, you might find that you love it,” she said. “But for the women that do want to work in the mill, it is an amazing opportunity. You will have an amazing lifestyle with the money that you make. The schedule really isn’t that bad. You can make it work.”
Roussain has been working full-time at Algoma Steel for six years now and looks forward to a long career. Her husband works in the trades as a mechanic and his family members also have careers in the trades.
After working for only 18 months at the steel plant, she and her husband were able to purchase their own home. They were also under 30 years of age, a milestone that has been unachievable for many young people in other parts of the country.
Much like their parents, they get to raise their family in a small city, a playground in the nature that surrounds them, and secure good jobs.