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LivingPhone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.comPHOTOS BY MICHELLE MARINOON THE JOB:Charlotte Jackson and Hailey Jeffries don safety goggles to tour the Goodrich Landing Gear plant in Oakville; Tim Whittier, Goodrichs director of government relations, speaks to recentvisitors from the local chapter of the Canadian Association for Girls in Science; and, the girls on a tour, pay close attention on the shop floor where they see landing gear as it is being manufactured.Girls soar to new heights with CAGISBy Michelle MarinoAs both the Toronto Chapter co-ordinator, on planes all around the world.and the career opportunities that exist.SPECIAL TO THE BEAVERand head of the national CAGIS organiza-To show the girls this type of environ-Vingilis-Jaremko will speak at HIECstion, Vingilis-Jaremko is an engaged mentor ment that destroys gender-based stereotypes, upcoming Women as Career Coaches (WACC)Girls' exploration of science and technol-to other young women and girls. In 2006, and introduces them to women that are event to be held on Thursday, March 24 atogy recently saw a group of girls land at she won the YWCA of Toronto 2006 Young accessible and real, increases the likelihood the Burlington Convention Centre.Oakvilles Goodrich Landing Gear plant.Woman of Distinction. they may pursue this type of education as a Vingilis-Jaremko will be a SpotlightThey were there as members of CAGIS Now, 18 years later, CAGIS is a national future career, said Curry Jahnke.Speaker at the free, intergenerational men-(Canadian Association for Girls in Science), a network of girls who have a passion for sci-During the presentation and tour, Whittier toring event that encourages communitynetwork of girls aged seven to 16 years old ence, technology, engineering, and mathe-explained how they design, build and test members to act as career coaches and dis-who have a passion for science, technology, matics or STEM.the Goodrich products.cuss their goals, career paths, and accom-engineering, and mathematics.CAGIS works to promote, educate and Our biggest product is the A380 (double plishments with younger generations. They donned safety glasses and ear plugs support interest and confidence in STEM decker plane) landing gear, Whittier said. To learn more about this event, or to reg-and paid close attention as Goodrichs fields among girls. Across Canada, CAGIS Our Oakville plant began with just 25 engi-ister, visit www.hiec.on.ca/wacc.Director of Government Relations Tim chapter members meet monthly to explore neers, now we have more than 125 working To contact CAGIS, visit www.cagis.ca orWhittier outlined how landing gear is made.STEM with fun, hands-on activities led by at our plant of more than 800 people.e-mail cagis.oakville@gmail.com.Many of the participants were about the professionals in many fields.Some of those 125 engineers were on Girls aged seven to 16 years can becomesame age as Larissa Vingilis-Jaremko who, at As a strong supporter of CAGIS and inno-hand to speak about their careers.members by registering online and paying aage of nine, set out to change the opinions of vative school-to-career connections, the We had such a great response from the yearly membership fee of $40.girls everywhere by showing them that sci-Halton Industry Education Council (HIEC) girls, they truly enjoyed themselves and even HIEC was established in November 1989ence can be interesting and fun.was invited, along with CAGIS Oakville reported that this event was the best one as a not-for-profit organization and is a jointThe daughter of a scientist and engineer, Chapter, on the tour of the Goodrich plant.yet, said Curry Jahnke.venture among industry, education and com-Vingilis-Jaremko had always been interested Goodrich Landing Gear was so generous Whittier told HIEC staff he hopes The munity partners in Halton to enhance careerin science, but noticed that most girls her to open their very secure doors and plant to success of our female engineers will inspire education and create the best opportunitiesage found it boring and difficult. Vingilis-our girls, said Jennifer Curry Jahnke, CAGIS some of the girls to pursue their own aspira-for youths.Jaremko founded the Canadian Association volunteer Oakville community chapter co-tions recognizing that they, too, can attain To learn more, visit www.hiec.on.ca, www.for Girls in Science (CAGIS) in 1992.ordinator.challenging and rewarding careers if they schooltocareer.ca, www.apprenticesearch.Her mom, Evelyn Vingilis, belonged to Goodrich makes landing gear for major choose to pursue their interests in science, com, www.futureforcehalton.ca and www.the Canadian Association of Women in airlines and employs some of the most math and technology. We would encourage EmployerRegistry.ca.Science and had introduced her daughter to highly skilled and trained aerospace engi-any other interested employers to open their Michelle Marino is the Events Lead/many women who worked in science, tech-neers, both men and women. doors and provide an opportunity for these Communications Specialist at the Haltonnology, engineering and mathematics.The companys landing gear can be found students to gain insights into what they do Industry Education Council (HIEC)www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, February 4, 2011 22