When Talent Meets Opportunity: The Stories Behind the BUILD Scholarship’s Inaugural Cohort
For many emerging tradespeople, the biggest barrier to pursuing a career they love isn’t passion—it’s access. The Beedie Luminaries BUILD Scholarship helps close that gap by offering up to $20,000 in financial support towards the completion of the Red Seal Certification, along with comprehensive wrap-around resources for students pursuing one of five eligible trades programs at BCIT (view eligible programs here).
We are deeply grateful to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for supporting two BUILD Scholarships each year, standing alongside us in recognizing the potential and promise these learners bring to BC’s skilled trades sector.
In the article below, we meet Anna Paulse and Karmandie Friesen, two recipients from our inaugural BUILD cohort. Their stories remind us why BUILD exists—and what becomes possible when opportunity meets determination.
Anna: Finding Her Place in Carpentry
Upon graduating from high school in Vancouver, Anna was unsure where life would take her. She knew that she found joy in creativity and craftsmanship, however, with hardly any female role models in the trades, a job in construction had never seemed like an option. After years of trying to find her path, she saw a discovery trades program for women at BCIT and decided to take a chance.
The Discovery Program opened the door, and despite battling imposter syndrome as a woman in trades, she secured a work placement with Powers Construction, a construction management company whose work has been featured in leading magazines such as Dwell, Canadian Architect, Azure and Western Living. It was during this time that Anna realized that carpentry offered her a path to utilize her eye for detail and advance into a career with many growth opportunities. Although she was unsure how she would afford school on top of the initial costs for basic tools needed for work, she applied for the Red Seal apprentice carpentry program at BCIT.
It was on her first day of school that Anna received the news that she was a successful recipient of the Beedie BUILD Scholarship. “Their decision to commit to and support me filled me with confidence, and now, I know I can’t give up.” An ad she had seen on Instagram had transformed into an opportunity that would change the trajectory of her life.
Anna was offered a full-time position at Powers construction after her practicum and in July of 2026 has entered her level 2 in the Red Seal carpentry program at BCIT.
“It can be hard as a woman in a male-dominated workplace, but slowly, together, we are changing that ratio, and I hope that young women see me and know that groups like Beedie and RBC believe we have a place.”
Karmandie: Courage, Independence, and the Start of Something Big
At just 18 years old, Karmandie began her Carpentry Foundation program before she even finished high school. She moved from Creston, B.C. — her hometown of just 5,500 people and an 8.5-hour drive from Vancouver—to live in student housing on her own for the first time. With no air conditioning and the longing feeling of homesickness, she slowly began adjusting to the city and embarked on the greatest learning curve of her life so far.
And though she missed her loved ones, the slow living of her small town, and even the grocery store she had spent her summers working, Karmandie realized one critical thing: her relationship with herself has never been better.
Driven by her desire to be an inspiration for her sisters and help communities flourish, Karmandie has been nothing short of a trailblazer. Though she is the youngest, and only female, in her program, Karmandie reflects and says, “I am so glad I am choosing to do what I enjoy the most”. She shares how she spent her days in high-school shop classes building projects she loved, discovered joy in helping others learn, and has always dreamed of building her own house one day.
Financial barriers were real. Saving for tuition while working at a grocery store and summer fruit stands took months. Then, after being accepted to her program, she received an unexpected email: an invitation to apply for Beedie Luminaries.
She still remembers seeing the acceptance on her phone in the school library. “I sat there for five minutes just processing. When I called my mom, she went silent at first, but then I think we both cried.”
For Karmandie, the BUILD Scholarship is more than funding—it’s a lifeline. “This scholarship gives me a leg up”, she says.
Journeys taken by students like Karmandie are why the BUILD Scholarship was created to begin with.
The Possibilities of the BUILD Scholarship
Anna and Karmandie’s stories are undeniably different: while Anna found her pathway in the trades by returning to her creative roots in her mid-20s, Karmandie is discovering her independence through her craft just coming out of high school. Still, the two of them come together in this community fostered by the Beedie Luminaries Scholarship Foundation, and we are lucky to have them as a part of our inaugural cohort of the BUILD Scholarship.
Follow Their Footsteps
If you’re passionate about building—whether homes, communities, or a future you’re proud of—the BUILD Scholarship can help you take that next step.
Discover the support, community, and opportunities that helped Anna and Karmandie carve their own paths in the trades. Applications open annually in November. Be prepared for the next application launch.
Build your skills. Build your confidence. Build your future.
Learn more at BeedieLuminaries.ca.
