Like mother, like daughter: driving change behind the wheel

Meet the mother–daughter duo breaking barriers in heavy equipment.

For the McLaughlin family, operating big machines is a family affair. Kerry McLaughlin built her career as a heavy equipment operator with the City’s Roads and Parking Services team and now serves as an operations clerk. Her love of heavy machinery has since inspired her daughters, Brook and Mickerra, to follow in her tracks, with both now working as heavy equipment operators. Except, their career journey didn’t start with a job posting – it started in the passenger seat.

We sat down with Kerry and Brook to hear their stories.

 

From car seats to driver’s seats 

Before joining the City of Ottawa, Kerry worked for a family business and often brought her girls along to work. “If I had to go somewhere, I used to put a car seat in the cab of my truck and take my girls with me,” she said with a laugh.

Brook remembers those days fondly. “I remember going on road trips and even getting picked up from school in a semi-truck.”

Those early experiences stayed with her. As an adult, Brook followed in her mother’s footsteps – first working in the same industry and later joining her mother as a heavy equipment operator at the City. In her current role, she operates a range of heavy equipment, including snowplows, as part of the winter operations team.

Asked whether her mother was an inspiration for her career path, Brook didn’t hesitate. “She definitely was.” Growing up, she says she never doubted her own ability to do the work. “I always knew I could do it because I grew up watching my mom do it.”

Hearing this, Kerry can’t help but smile. With pride in her voice, she adds, “I raised my daughters to believe that they can do anything.”

That confidence continues to support Brook in her career. “It’s not an easy job, but I love it,” she adds.

And they’re already looking ahead to the next generation of McLaughlins behind the wheel as Brook hopes to pass down the family’s love of big machines to her young daughter.

 

Making room at the controls 

Over the course of her career, Kerry says she’s seen a noticeable shift in attitudes within the industry. “As more women come in, I have seen a shift in attitudes, and there is more acceptance.” She expects this trend to continue as even more women join the field. “And the City of Ottawa does a great job of encouraging this,” she adds.

Kerry credits much of that progress to strong leadership. “When management accepts and treats all employees—regardless of gender—as equals, that respect naturally filters down,” she says. Brook agrees, emphasizing the importance of managers who promote trust and transparency in the workplace. She says, “When those in leadership roles actively consider and respond to employee input, it creates a safe and supportive environment where I’ve always felt heard, valued and taken seriously.”

As part of the next generation of operators, Brook is seeing the impacts of this growing acceptance firsthand, especially as the number of female operators continues to grow. Still, she acknowledges that visibility in the field is important. “Sometimes people are still surprised when I drive by and see a woman operating this big machine,” she says.

While the industry continues to evolve, both women acknowledge that some challenges remain. “The biggest challenge is definitely strength,” says Brook. “Whether you’re driving a plow in the winter or working on a roads crew in the summer, this is a very physically demanding job,” Kerry adds. Even so, they emphasize that while the work is tough, they are more than capable of meeting the demands.

“I think there is sometimes pressure to fit in by matching the men and proving your worth,” says Kerry. However, she stresses the importance of pushing through those pressures and not letting them stand in the way of doing the job well.

Despite those pressures, both Kerry and Brook are clear about one thing: there’s a seat for anyone ready to take the wheel.