In the cavernous garage of Vancouver Community College, a diesel engine rumbled to full power last week.

A smattering of teenage girls watched intently as the 500 horsepower, 3,400-pound Cummins engine begins to smoke. The idle validation was close to stalling and the engine is not running efficiently.

After a week from July 12 to 16 dismantling and reassembling the machine through an introductory course on diesel mechanics sponsored by Cummins, the 15 young women now had an example of the skills required for a job in the trades.

"We're not going to make a mechanic in a week," said Ron Fletcher, a heavy industrial mechanic and an instructor with three decades experience.

But the point of the course is to instill the desire to work in trades like heavy duty machinery and auto mechanics, and inspire women to pursue training and education in complimentary fields like engineering, technology and science.

In addition to $4 million in provincial funding through the Industry Training Authority, girls and women are being courted to consider professions they might otherwise not even know about.

Women comprise less than four per cent of the trades workforce across Canada and classes at VCC reflect this percentage.

Six women are enrolled to study diesel mechanics compared to more than 200 men. Brian Haugen, the department head of heavy duty and commercial transport at the college's Centre for Transportation Trades, sees more teenage girls and young women signing up to take automotive courses.

Four years ago, 19 female students were enrolled in transportation trades. The next year, 27 women were signed up, and in 2009-2010 school year, 39 women were studying such trades as automotive collision repair, automotive service and heavy duty diesel mechanics.

Adonis-like physical body strength is not a requirement, said Haugen. However, definitely required are a sense of humour, strong sense of self and discipline.

"If someone nails your shoes to the floor on your first day," said the father of six daughters, "it's because you're new--not because you're a woman."

Compared to his classes that are predominantly male, Fletcher said, the teenage girls showed up on the first morning of the five-day class with an attitude he found "refreshing." They were less competitive with each other and, he said, found effective ways to collaborate, share knowledge and work together.

Stephanie Gasinsky, 18, took Diesel 101 the first time it was offered last year. She was back again to respark her emerging abilities before beginning full-time courses at VCC and an eventual apprenticeship in heavy duty mechanics.

It takes a certain amount of confidence to enter a profession and workplace generally dominated by men, she said. "I'm just going to be myself."

Ching Gettman, the branch manager for Cummins Western Canada which sponsors the introductory courses, has more than one reason to encourage young women like Gasinsky to develop the ability and desire to work in trades. She said there is a shortage of employable mechanics in Vancouver as skilled workers seek jobs within the resource industry outside of the city.

An American citizen, Gettman maintained tanks for the U.S. Army as a reservist before completing a PhD in aerospace mechanics at M.I.T. While she studied her craft, she did not initially get her hands dirty.

Now she's looking to these 15 teenage girls with streaked coveralls and scuffed steel-toe protectors who rebuilt a diesel engine as a sign more women will find success in the trades.

mstewart@vancourier.com