Engineers Canada celebrates International Women’s Day

Mar. 8, 2016 – Engineers Canada says it is proud to join in the worldwide celebration of International Women’s Day, which recognizes the social, political, economic and other achievements made by women.

“Today, we applaud the many contributions that women engineers have made — and continue to make — to their communities, to their country, to the world and to the profession,” said Engineers Canada CEO Kim Allen. “We call on all stakeholders to continue their efforts to increase the number of women within the engineering profession.”

Engineers Canada, in collaboration with the 12 provincial and territorial engineering regulators, says it is committed to raising the percentage of newly licensed engineers who are women to 30 per cent by the year 2030. Achieving this 30 by 30 goal, it says, will be “vital to the sustainability of the engineering profession and its ability to innovate for the safety and well-being of society.” Engineers Canada has called on likeminded stakeholders and organizations to make progress in increasing the number of women in engineering, whether it is in academic programs, places of employment or other areas.

The organization’s work in support of the 30 by 30 goal includes a range of activities:

• Its Sustainable Profession Committee advise on initiatives related to women in engineering.
• In partnership with Geoscientists Canada, Engineers Canada recently released a resource planning guide that outlines best practices for employees and employers managing maternity or parental leave in the engineering and geoscience professions.
• It presents the annual Award for the Support of Women in the Engineering Profession to individuals who have contributed to the advancement of women in the profession.
• It supports and contributes to research projects that aim to identify and reduce the barriers faced by women in the engineering profession, including the NSERC-funded Engendering Engineering Success project.
• It supports diversity initiatives of students through its support of the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES).
• It is a member of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT), a national coalition of groups that promotes women in science, engineering, trades and technology, celebrates their contributions, and unites a vision for these fields.

“Diversity has proven value in the workplace for innovation, creativity and economic competitiveness in a global economy,” said Jeanette M. Southwood, Engineers Canada vice-president, strategy and partnerships. “Engineers Canada is therefore dedicated to working with its members, partners and other stakeholders to advance diversity within the engineering profession.”