Victoria, BC (June 7, 2018) – In May of 2013, a group of dedicated women came together with the intention of developing a forum that would promote and support female participation in the construction industry. Five years later, the Women in Construction (WiC) network, supported by the Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA), was established with chapters in Victoria and Nanaimo.

“Women make up over 12 per cent of the construction workforce in Canada. With the Island being hit with a labour shortage, I think we can move that dial and support more women into the industry,” stated Cheryl Hartman, Chair of WiC’s Victoria chapter. “Our events provide an opportunity for industry members to come together in support of the mentorship, professional development, and growth of all women in construction.”

Click here to sign-up and receive the Weekly Round Up in your inbox every Saturday

Over the past five years, WiC has hosted site tours, powerhouse panels, and social mixers for a vast network of individuals, ranging from students and engineers to project managers and tradespersons. The events are open to anyone who considers themselves a ‘woman in construction’, as well as those who support women working in the industry.

“We’re proud of the work our Women in Construction network is doing to empower women within the industry,” said Rory Kulmala, CEO of the Vancouver Island Construction Association. “We’ve watched the network mature from its infancy to where it is today, growing in membership size and expanding the diversity of roles these women hold within their respective companies. It’s time for all members of our industry to support the inclusion and advancement of women working in the skilled trades.”

In a recent poll conducted by the Industry Training Authority’s Women in Trades Training initiative, tradeswomen report high levels of job satisfaction and increased confidence. VICA’s Women in Construction network is comprised of a group of dedicated volunteers who are focused on mentoring the next generation of workers to create a vibrant and welcoming industry.

Backgrounder: About Women in Construction
Women in Construction (WiC) is a grassroots Vancouver Island network working to promote and support female participation in one of the key sectors of our provincial economy: construction. The Vancouver Island Construction Association (VICA), a member-based, industry-led association, is proud to support WiC’s Nanaimo and Victoria chapters. 

 

Social Media: @VICA_BC #VICAWiC

www.vicabc.ca

 

Share YOUR News and Brand YOUR Business – Click here to order the media kit

Never miss the Construction Links Network news – Subscribe to the Weekly Round Up e-newsletter which will be delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Join over 8,000 professionals from the construction, building and design community and sign-up today!