10/07/2026
Indigenous Mentor Spotlight: Dolly Kruger
When Dolly Kruger walked into her first carpentry class at Okanagan College in 1994, she was the only woman in the room.
More than 30 years later, she's built a successful career as a skilled carpenter and business owner, but she still remembers the instructor who welcomed her into that classroom and helped her believe that she belonged.
“I carved out my place in the trades by walking into male-dominated spaces like they were already mine, guided by kindness, respect, and patience by the first-year trades teacher I’ll never forget. Every skill I own was fought for with grit, culture, and the unshakeable truth that women don’t just belong here — we can, have and WILL lead by example.”
Today, Dolly is helping create that same sense of belonging for others.
Join us on October 15 at Okanagan College’s Penticton campus for the first event of Success in the Trades, where Dolly will share her journey, answer questions and connect with Indigenous women interested in exploring skilled trades careers.
🍽️ Enjoy a warm meal, meet mentors and peers, and learn about pathways into the trades.
Register today: https://ow.ly/efs750ZUICL
This event is brought to you by the ACTION Project at Okanagan College, funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.
