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Over the years, the North American workforce has changed, especially in the construction industry. In response, SMART locals across the United States and Canada have worked to build unions for all members, regardless of race, gender, place of origin, belief and beyond. 

Lisa DuPuis of Local 47 (Ottawa, Ontario) is a journeyperson, executive board member and local women’s committee chair. In a recent episode of SMART News, DuPuis looked back on when she first entered the sheet metal industry and spoke proudly about how the number of sisters in the trades has grown since then.

“When I first started in the trades, it was very uncommon to see women. I think when I started, it was about six in all of Eastern Ontario or for our Local 47. Now, I believe we have over 40.”  

Attending the Tradeswomen Build Nations (TWBN) conference in Washington, DC, in 2023 made this new reality even clearer for DuPuis.  

“It was a huge eye-opening experience for me,” she recalled. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of how many women were in trades, how big of a movement it is.”  

Marching through DC with hundreds of fellow SMART sisters reinforced what DuPuis already knew: “I’m not the only woman anymore. There’s pretty much a woman, if not more, in every different trade.”  

For SMART locals, that fact is more than just something to feel good about. It is a crucial part of our union’s work to organize, grow market share and take on projects like data centers, battery plants and beyond. Signatory contractors need the workforce required to take on demanding jobs; recruiting and retaining ALL members is how SMART locals can help make that happen.

Knowing how difficult it was for women in the trades back when she first started, DuPuis helped begin the Local 47 women’s committee to foster connection for her fellow sisters.  

“The whole purpose of starting the committee was to give women a chance to be able to talk, to be able to come together, to be able to approach me and other licensed journeywomen, to be able to approach us and ask us anything,” she said. “And I think that’s the whole purpose of having these women’s committees: to have a safe space where you can ask anything.” 

DuPuis also credits SMART for supporting this movement. Initiatives like Belonging and Excellence for All (BE4ALL) and SMART’s participation in TWBN make her feel the power of solidarity in our union, she said.  

“Every single person I have worked with has done nothing but encourage me, empower me. I’ve never felt like I couldn’t do the job. Ever.” 

Terry Belleville retired in summer 2023, following more than four decades in the unionized sheet metal trade.

Belleville started his sheet metal apprenticeship with Local 47 (Ottawa, Ontario) in the 1970s, becoming a journeyperson in 1979. He started serving his union as a member of the Local 47 executive board in 1985 before becoming an organizer for the local in October 1987. He successfully ran for business agent in July 1988, serving in that position until June 2000, before serving as the local’s business manager from July 2000 until February 2007. He became a SMART international representative in March 2007.

Belleville was instrumental in forming the eastern Ontario Members’ Assistance Program, which has evolved across Ontario for any building trades member, including Local 47 and other SMART members in the province. He has also worked to form the Daryl Lecuyer Memorial Softball Tournament, helping to raise thousands of dollars for the Members’ Assistance Program.

Terry has one son, Chris, and one daughter, Ashley, with his late wife Marilyn, as well as two granddaughters. SMART thanks you and wishes you a long and healthy retirement, Terry!

Local 47 (Ottawa, Ontario) sheet metal worker Stuart Simpson started his tradesperson career at a nonunion sheet metal shop. Unlike many nonunion contractors, though, his employer ended up actively encouraging Simpson and his coworkers to join SMART – resulting in a “truly life-changing” shift that Simpson says has transformed the trajectory of his career, leading him to become Local 47’s training coordinator. Read more in his BE4ALL member story:  

“I got into sheet metal at a local shop in 1996. I became a registered apprentice and went through my five-year apprenticeship, attended three intakes at our local college (eight weeks each time), wrote my certificate of qualification and became a licensed journeyperson in 2002.

“I joined SMART back in 2011 – before becoming a union member, I worked for a nonunion shop. We normally worked long hours, usually for straight time, and we were paid time and a half when it was available. My employer at the time decided that we should all join the union because of the benefits SMART membership provided. It was a good employer that wanted to give its employees a better future. We were provided with a good pension plan and great benefits, as well as a nice wage increase! My employer did the best it could to provide good benefits and a pension; however, joining the union was an amazing decision. I am truly grateful for that. I was fortunate to work for that company for 19.5 years before it closed its doors.

“Once I became a union member, I started attending union meetings and learned more about what the union has done and could do for its members. By attending more union functions, I got to know the officers of the union, and when my union reached out looking for an instructor to assist with safety training, I submitted my name. Thankfully they liked what I had to offer, and I became one of the safety trainers. Shortly after I also became the part-time training coordinator, and after a few years they brought me on full time to serve as the permanent training coordinator.

“Over the last five years our local has expanded its safety training, brought in two more instructors, and most recently we were awarded our TDA (training delivery agent) status, which will allow us to start teaching the 308A Red Seal sheet metal and the 449A Red Seal roofer programs in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. I am so grateful to be a part of SMART, for the education it has provided me, as well as the many skill upgrade opportunities I’ve been able to access. Honestly, joining the union was transformational for me, not only from a financial position, but also because the things I’ve learned and the courses I’ve attended have truly changed my life. When I meet new apprentices, I tell them to take every opportunity to grow their skills, as learning is a lifelong journey. Thank you SMART for all you have done and continue to do for us!”