In 1991, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) took note of Valerie’s instrumental work with SaskWITT, and offered her a position as a summer camp counsellor to teach girls in grades 7 and 8 about careers in the trades and technology. During her time with SIAST, Valerie headed Girls Exploring Trades and Technology camps, GETT Alumni workshops for high school girls and weekend Kids in the Shop programs in the summer season, as well as a Kindergarten project where she and other role models visited 60 classrooms, Women and Trades and Women in Technology Exploratory programs and Career Fairs, and variations of all these for Indigenous women and girls throughout the rest of the year.
Taking advantage of what she had learned from this role in her community, Valerie co-founded the Women’s Work Training Program in her hometown in 1995. Throughout her career, she represented tradeswomen on several boards and committees, including the Saskatchewan Education Council, Saskatchewan Carpenters Trade Board, Saskatchewan Provincial Apprenticeship Board, the Saskatchewan Labour Market Initiatives Committee to the Canadian Construction Association, and the Women’s Reference Group to the Provincial Labour Force Development Board. On a national level, she represented Saskatchewan as a Director of the Canadian Vocational Association, WITT NN, and CCWEST. Valerie also held positions as the Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum and the National Women’s Reference Group on Labour Market Initiatives during her time with these organizations.
During her time working with WITT NN and other agencies, Valerie was a consultant on various Employment Equity and Retention projects. Her focus was collaborating with employers and unions to dismantle barriers that were inhibiting women from following careers in the trades and technology industries. During this time, Valerie formed ties in the Construction Industry, Oil and Gas, and Mining Industries, and she gained several contracts all over the country. From here. Valerie became a consultant to an initiative by the Canadian Coalition of Women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) after WITT NN dissolved in the early 2000s. At this time, Valerie delivered programs and services to unions, employers and employer associations to establish a universal framework to promote equality in workplaces.
Valerie has received both local and national recognition for her dedication to making the trades and technology fields more accessible to women and girls. In 1992, she was awarded with the Governor General’s 125 Medal for community volunteerism and she was also recognized by the YWCA Regina as a Woman of Distinction for her efforts. Likewise, she received the Saskatchewan Centennial medal in 2005 to honour her progressive and inspiring strive for inclusivity throughout her career.