Wear for the Active West Coast Woman
The Exclusive Mobile Shopping Experience for Women
She Works She Plays Active Wear Inc. is not an online store. This is an exclusive personal shopping experience for women in communities on the west coast of Canada. My name is Audrey Rippingale and I am founder/owner/truck driver of this mobile business based out of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. I am a commercial driver and have been working in trades for over a decade. My own frustration at not being able to find work wear had me thinking it was time someone did something about this issue. So when an ongoing wrist injury prevented me from continuing to drive concrete trucks, which I enjoyed doing for Island Ready Mix for the previous eight years, I realized the time to do something had come. This crossroads in life got my creativity flowing and the business was born. I travel the west coast with my Kenworth and converted semi-trailer which sets up as a store filled with women's industrial work, safety and outer wear.
Here is an interview with CBC Radio North in May 2016 while I was in Terrace, BC. The interview covers who I am, what I am all about and the issues that us women working in industry and trades can face when it comes to getting work wear that is functional for us.
"CBC Daybreak North" by host Carolina de Ryk - Audio
My story is also wonderfully summed up by CTV Vancouver Island News when Lisa Perry did a segment on my truck. The only thing I would add to the interview is that pink is not "my theme". I do carry some pink PPE because women have requested it, but I carry a wide range of all types of women's work, safety and outer wear. I am very proud to run my own trucking business and to help women working in trades and industry get what they need to get their jobs done.
On January 22 the Canadian government committed a million dollars for women in trades in Alberta. The funds will go to Women Building Futures.
On January 30, 2015 BC Mining HR Taskforce published this 30 minute video featuring 6 women working in BC's mining industry. This is just amazing and inspiring. Women respresent 16% of the mining workforce in Canada. Think about ladies, it's never too late...
Update: Currently we are working on framing in the door, constructing the back wall and welding and creating the stairs.
Flint Energy Services is looking for welders in Fort St. John. Click here for more information.
Lafarge and Women Building Futures are working together with a recruitment and training program on truck driving dedicated to women. Check it out.
Fantastic to see BC's school districts showing students options for their futures. In the Peace Region on January 23, hundreds of students were busy trying different trades and 50 grade 9 girls participated in a "Women in Trades" conference.