Brook Shepherd grew up watching her mom Kerry McLaughlin steer massive snowplows through Ottawa's winter streets. Now she's doing it herself, and their story is one of the most charming things to come out of Ottawa's city operations in a long time.
A Family Trade
Kerry McLaughlin has been operating heavy machinery for the City of Ottawa for years. Whether it's a snowplow charging through a snow-covered residential street at 3 a.m. or other heavy equipment needed to keep the capital running, Kerry has done it all. Growing up watching her mother at work left a deep impression on Brook.
"I just grew up seeing what she did and thinking, I want to do that," Brook has said. Now she's behind the wheel herself, working alongside other operators in a field still dominated by men.
Breaking Into a Male-Dominated Field
Operating heavy machinery for a major city isn't an easy path for anyone, and for women, there are additional barriers, from the cultural assumptions about who "should" be in these roles to the physical demands of the work. Both Brook and Kerry have navigated these challenges, and both say they hope their visibility encourages more women to consider careers in heavy equipment operation.
What They Hope to See
The mother-daughter duo told CBC Ottawa they'd love to see more women applying for operator positions with the city. The City of Ottawa, like many municipalities, is actively working to diversify its workforce in traditionally male-dominated departments.
Why Ottawa Works
For anyone who's ever woken up to find their street freshly plowed in the middle of a snowstorm, they have people like Kerry and Brook to thank. It's a reminder that the people who keep Ottawa running are as diverse and interesting as the city itself.
Source: CBC Ottawa
