Kelsey Spencer, Lead Carpenter

This story is a profile of a carpenter, not a report on energy programs or home upgrades. It has no rebate deadlines, program changes, or technical guidance that would affect a homeowner's own house.

The piece follows Kelsey Spencer, who grew up helping her father with projects and discovered carpentry as a career path in high school. After graduating, she moved to Grand Manan Island and took a job with Big Dog Construction, a company owned by a woman, Gena Hoyt. She learned to adapt her technique for lifting and leverage on the job, and later completed Canada's apprenticeship program required to become a certified carpenter, a path that combines paid work with classroom training. She was the only woman in her apprenticeship class and faced early resistance from classmates before earning their respect.

Spencer now works as a lead carpenter at Big Dog, running a small crew of three to four people while doing hands-on building herself. She hopes that more visibility for women in the trades will encourage others to see carpentry as an option for them too.

There's nothing here about heat pumps, insulation, air sealing, or rebate programs, so it doesn't point to any specific action for someone planning upgrades to their own home. It's simply a feature on one tradesperson's path into the industry.