OTTAWA, March 8, 2016 – Engineers Canada is proud to join in the worldwide celebration of International Women’s Day, which recognizes the many 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 Chief Executive Officer Kim Allen, FEC, P.Eng., FCAE, MBA. “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, 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 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 significant progress in increasing the number of women in engineering, whether it is in academic programs, places of employment or other areas.
Engineers Canada’s work in support of the 30 by 30 goal and diversity within the engineering profession includes a wide range of activities:
- Engineers Canada’s Sustainable Profession Committee, composed of knowledge experts, advise on the initiatives related to women in engineering.
- Engineers Canada, in partnership with Geoscientists 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. Managing Transitions: Before, During and After Leave will go a long way to creating welcoming workplaces with good leave practices that will retain talented employees within the profession.
- Engineers Canada presents an annual Award for the Support of Women in the Engineering Profession to individuals who have contributed to the advancement of women in the profession.
- Engineers Canada 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.
- Engineers Canada supports the diversity initiatives of students through its strong support of the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES).
- Engineers Canada is a proud 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. Engineers Canada has been a long-time supporter of the biennial CCWESTT conference, which will be taking place in Ottawa from May 3-6, 2016.
“Diversity has proven value in the workplace for innovation, creativity and economic competitiveness in a global economy,” said Jeanette M. Southwood, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., FEC, FCAE, 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.”
Engineers Canada is the national organization of provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada and license the country's more than 280,000 members of the engineering profession. Together, we work to safeguard a better future for the environment, the economy and Canadians.
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For more information, contact:
Brent Gibson
Practice Lead, Communications
Engineers Canada
613.232.2474 x234
brent.gibson@engineerscanada.ca
