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PEOPLE’S CHOICE
CAITLIN HARTIGAN
Dean of Trades & Apprenticeship at Okanagan College
AS DEAN OF TRADES & APPRENTICESHIP at Okanagan
College, Caitlin Hartigan isn’t just discussing the shortage of
workers. She is on the front lines 昀椀ghting to address it.
Her work is at the nexus of education, industry, and
government to transform skilled trades training and address
critical workforce shortages across Canada. And it’s worth
mentioning that she's the youngest female Dean of Trades in
Canada, directing a team of 145 faculty and sta昀昀 members,
overseeing vocational programming that supports roughly
2,500 apprentices each year.
Construction isn’t just about knowing things.
It’s about relationships. The People’s Choice
is the 40 Under 40 Winner who received the
most endorsements from their peers. It truly
demonstrates the influence and reach of a
candidate, and their ability to cultivate a network.
There were no shortcuts. Colleagues say Caitlin earned two
masters degrees before most people can get a handle on one.
She went on to hold senior administrative roles at Keyano
College in Fort McMurray and Northwestern Polytechnic in
Grande Prairie, building a reputation as a visionary leader
who converts complex systemic challenges into practical,
industry-aligned solutions.
A dedicated champion of equity, diversity, inclusion, and
belonging, Caitlin works to dismantle structural barriers for
women and underrepresented groups in industrial careers. Her
leadership extends into championing neurodivergent learners
and professionals, advocating for inclusive environments that
leverage diverse cognitive perspectives to elevate workplace
safety, innovation, and operational excellence.
To bridge the gap between academic institutions and active
job sites, she established four dedicated Industry Steering
Committees that align vocational curricula directly with realtime labour market demands. Additionally, she championed
a Blue Seal-style entrepreneurship program that equips Red
Seal tradespeople with essential business, management,
and 昀椀nancial leadership skills to transition successfully into
business ownership.
Caitlin’s strategic vision was further highlighted when
she led Okanagan College to become the 昀椀rst post-secondary
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40 UNDER 40 2026
institution in British Columbia certi昀椀ed by the Alberta Boilers
Safety Association (ABSA) for B-Pressure welder testing. This
achievement eliminated cross-provincial friction, enabling welders
to move seamlessly between British Columbia and Alberta while
lowering costs for workers and boosting regional labour capacity.
Holding a Master of Business Administration, a Master of
Science in International Business, and a Bachelor of Commerce,
Caitlin pairs rigorous academic grounding with active industry
governance. She serves on the Board of Directors for Skills
Canada BC, sits on the Board of the Canadian Coalition of Women
in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT),
and previously served on the Alberta Board of Skilled Trades.
A sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, and advocate through
organizations like Women Building Futures, Caitlin continues to
shape the future of Canadian technical education and workforce
development.
Here’s how one of her coworkers summed things up: “It is hard
to overstate Caitlin's skill and impact. She is a tireless champion
of women in the trades - unapologetic in her clarity on the issues,
and masterful in her analysis. Caitlin is here to bring important
voices together at the table and get big jobs done.
SITE REPORTS
SHE ENJOYS her steak extremely rare and has an impressive keyboard
collection.
Caitlin is an animal lover who adores her pets. She rescued a dog from
overseas who eats her furniture. She laughs it off and buys new stuff.
What their peers said:
"She is an unapologetic force of nature, an outcomes based builder
who ensures people are appropriately engaged as projects unfold and
develop."
"One of the most compelling things Caitlin brings to the table is an
innovator's imagination - she's here to disrupt for the common good,
and insists we don't have to sacrifice excellence. That attitude and
vison is contagious."
