"I wish someone had introduced me to the skilled trades earlier.”

Some kids grow up dreaming of becoming firefighters. Others want to be rockstars, athletes, or astronauts. But Danielle Robb – homeschooled until the age of 11 by her mother, a social worker – had no such aspirations. “I was never asked what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Danielle said. “So, I never really thought about it!”

From Midwifery to Millwrighting

The end of high school forced Danielle to make a decision, any decision, about what was next for her. Intrigued by the midwife profession, she applied to all three schools in Ontario offering the ultra-competitive program, including Laurentian University in Sudbury.

When she didn't secure a spot, Danielle opted to follow in her mother’s footsteps and started a degree in social work, later switching to a double major in Women's Studies and Classical Studies in 2011

This period was a time of exploration and discovery, but deep down, Danielle knew these paths weren't her calling.

"I enjoyed my studies, but I couldn't see myself building a career in those fields," she said.

The Pivot to Trades