CAWIC Canadian Association of Women in Construction The official publication of Spring 2024 | Issue #1 INSIDE: A Journey of Grit and Glory Building Inclusion I Helped Build That! Strengthening Canada’s Construction Sector And much more! Canada Post Agreement Number: 40609661The official publication of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction 5 43 Celebrating Success: CAWIC Bursary Winners 50 About CAWIC 52 Thank You to Our CAWIC Volunteers 53 Meet CAWIC’s Members 54 Index to Advertisers 14 A JOURNEY OF GRIT AND GLORY A chance encounter with a former classmate led Jamie McMillan down an unexpected path. Now an ironworker and industry advocate, Jamie travels North America showcasing to youth the opportunities a career in trades can offer, which is something she wishes she had learned while she was still in high school. 20 BUILDING INCLUSION REQUIRES ALL HANDS ON DECK A new report recommends three areas of focus to build a more inclusive construction sector: shifting mindsets from mentorship to sponsorship; prioritizing flexibility and work- life balance; and investing in training for women. Is the construction industry ready to move from ideas to action? 28 I HELPED BUILD THAT! A career in construction offers a variety of benefits for women, but many do not know of the opportunities that exist. Showcasing the rewards, the ways to advance, and the sense of accomplishment felt while building something from nothing can activate interest in building a lifelong and successful career in the trades. 33 DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION: A ROUNDTABLE VIEW ON HOW TO STRENGTHEN CANADA’S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR Across industries, board rooms, and project teams, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is more important than ever. This roundtable discussion illustrates the issues and provides solutions. FEATURES 09 A Message from Lisa Laronde, President, CAWIC 11 A Message from Luana Buratynski, Past President, CAWIC 12 Meet the CAWIC 2023/2024 Board of Directors GET TO KNOW RECOGNITION CAWIC NEWS & VIEWS 39 CAWIC Member Spotlights 6 CAWIC Canadian Association of Women in Construction Spring 2024 | Issue #1 If you have photos of your tradespeople at work, WOMEN Building Canada would like to share the snapshots with readers across Canada. This is a great way to recognize team members and their contribution to your companies and the entire industry. Images must be high resolution. If chosen, we’ll include a 1-2 sentence caption that can include names, project details, company details, and photographer details. Spring 2024, Issue #1 Published For: The Canadian Association of Women in Construction 4086 Arbour Green Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5L 2J4 Tel: (416) 388-2960 info@cawic.ca https://cawic.ca Published By: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Return all undeliverable addresses to: 309 Youville Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 2S9 Toll-Free: (866) 999-1299 Toll-Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 sales@matrixgroupinc.net www.matrixgroupinc.net President & CEO Jack Andress Operations Manager Shoshana Weinberg sweinberg@matrixgroupinc.net Senior Publisher Jessica Potter jpotter@matrixgroupinc.net Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory ssavory@matrixgroupinc.net Editor / Social Media Manager Jenna Collignon Finance / Administration Lloyd Weinberg, Nathan Redekop accounting@matrixgroupinc.net Director of Circulation & Distribution Lloyd Weinberg distribution@matrixgroupinc.net Sales Manager Jeff Cash jcash@matrixgroupinc.net Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Colleen Bell, Jackie Casburn, Rob Gibson, Jim Hamilton, Scott Hendren, Touhid Khan, Frank Kenyeres, Sandra Kirby, Charlie Langsford, Andrew Lee, Brian MacIntyre, Shaun Minett, Lynn Murphy, Caitlin Nakamura, Vlada Radchenko, Wilma Gray-Rose, Luke Stevens, Joseph Ukaoha Layout & Design Kayti McDonald Advertising Design James Robinson © 2024 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of the publisher. BOOK YOUR AD IN NEXT ISSUE! To advertise in the next edition of WOMEN Building Canada, please e-mail sales@matrixgroupinc.net or call (866) 999-1299 . Your Photos In Print! All across the country women are contributing to Canada’s construction environment, lending their skills and expertise to projects big and small. Sharing images of women at work in the construction industry is a fantastic way to show potential and new tradespeople that women DO belong and are DOING amazing work. SEND YOUR SNAPSHOTS TO INFO@CAWIC.CA.The official publication of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction 9 O n behalf of the Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC), welcome to the inaugural edition of our official magazine – WOMEN Building Canada. At CAWIC, we’re excited to provide you with this new publication examining some of the most critical issues and opportunities facing women in our sector. Since CAWIC launched in October 2005 much has changed, but what has remained constant is our passion and our commitment to help support women in the construction industry. Today, 12% 1 of the construction workforce is women, but women comprise an even smaller proportion of workers on site, less than 5%. The stats show that while there have been small advancements, there’s significantly more work to do and it begins with diversifying executive leadership teams, eliminating workplace harassment, and offering access to professional development. In addition, women need to be offered flexible work environments, and more importantly, the gender and job title pay gaps need to be eliminated. I know and have witnessed that through collaboration, united commitment, and a strong voice, the challenges faced will become better understood and addressed, and will help transform the industry for the better. When we talk about the industry’s issues, we are taking the first step in building real solutions and action. Representation and a strong voice are critical to bringing new opportunities to life which will help improve the construction industry for generations to come. At CAWIC, we are committed to expanding our voice, putting forward solutions, and enhancing the success of women in the construction industry. In fact, with a new two-year strategic plan in place, we have set the stage for an exciting and dynamic path ahead – not just for CAWIC members, but for the entire construction industry and the individuals who work in it. We will continue to find new ways to provide our members and the industry with increased support, resources, and value. Our new magazine is only one of many new initiatives underway. In our first edition of the magazine, we examine: •the inspiring journey of Jamie McMillan, the founder of KickAss Career and a recognized speaker and expert on the global stage. In the article, A Journey of Grit and Glory,Jamie will inspire you to examine what is possible when you find your place and understand your potential; •how we can work together to build the next generation of leaders. The article I Helped Build That! examines how we can inspire the next generation to consider a career in construction; •Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In our Roundtable of Perspectives, individuals from across the industry examine why DEI is critical and discuss what we can collectively do to dismantle and remove the barriers, change behaviour, and embrace a diverse and inclusive workforce; •the Building Better: A Women In Construction Report, which sheds light on the untapped potential of women in the construction industry and the systemic challenges they face on their path to leadership; •this year’s outstanding bursary award winners. Each year, CAWIC supports women looking to embark on a career in construction. Be sure to read our article Celebrating Success to learn more about this year’s bursary award winners; •and so much more! I hope that you enjoy this first edition of WOMEN Building Canada. If you have any future story ideas or if you would like to share your feedback, please contact me at info@cawic.ca. AWIC on of Women in Construction WELCOME TO WOMEN BUILDING CANADA REFERENCE: 1.BuildForce Canada Key Indicators (2023-11). https://www.buildforce.ca/en/key-indicators Lisa Laronde President CAWIC The stats show that while there have been small advancements, there’s significantly more work to do and it begins with diversifying executive leadership teams, eliminating workplace harassment, and offering access to professional development. GET TO KNOW CAWIC Canadian Association of Women in ConstructionNext >