Empowering Women
STEEL HEELS Automotive Service & Repair
A for-women, by-women auto repair shop - a rarity in an industry that is more than 98 per cent male.
For those looking to go
into automotive repair, Miranda MacIsaac’s advice is to just “go for it.”
Owner/Operator
Miranda MacIsaac
Contact Information
19 Camburhill Ct, Charlottetown 902.367.2690
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“It certainly isn’t easy, and I have learned a lot in the last year and a half, but I wouldn’t change it,” says MacIsaac, owner of Steel Heels, the only female-owned and operated repair shop on the Island. As someone who always loved go-karts, motorbikes, and “basically anything with an engine,” MacIsaac was naturally drawn to the repair side of things. She opened Steel Heels in 2019, but started her goal in 2012 by working toward a Red Seal certification. Having
a Red Seal shows that tradespeople have met the standards required for their trade. With Steel Heels, MacIsaac wanted to make knowledge about the repair industry more accessible to women. “Starting Steel Heels was about helping those in the community feel comfortable and confident when dealing with automotive service,” she says. “I want my clients to feel like they understand what is going on with their cars, and feel like they can ask questions with confidence and comfort.”
Steel Heels also offers Auto Know Clinics, where the community can come in and learn a bit about the repair and mechanic process. Despite the repair industry being traditionally male- dominated, MacIsaac says the community has been nothing but supportive. Although, she says, running a business can be tough, it’s the small things that show her it’s worth it. “A simple text message or phone call from someone just giving you that little extra push always helps,” she says.
Even though Steel Heels has only been open for a little over a year, MacIsaac is also starting to think of the future. Among other things, she would like to bring in more bays and more female technicians, as well as be able to take on a few apprentices. “I want to support the community like they have supported Steel Heels,” she says.
By KATIE INGRAM Photos By STORY SHEIDOW
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2020
SPRING 2020 www.pei-living.ca
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