Thank you for making CCWESTT2018 such a success! 

This three-day national event, brought together subject matter experts, employers, CEOs/presidents, government representatives, and women in SETT (Science, Engineering, Trades, and Technology) at all phases of their career life-cycle to share their knowledge and experience around diversity and inclusion. Our flexible theme of “Learn. Grow. Act.” included the sharing current and emerging research and best practices, offering powerful professional development, and gaining practical solutions to the challenges faced regarding attraction, promotion, and retention of women in SETT.

A record-breaking 450 women and men attended CCWESTT 2018, with more than 50% of attendees represented women in engineering and geoscience. While male attendance has not been tracked in the past by CCWESTT, the 2018 conference saw: 10 male speakers as part of the program, 30% of student volunteers were male, 15% of Policy Forum attendees were male, and 5% of conference attendees as male.

We had 100 participants in pre-conference professional development workshops:

• Microaggressions in the SETT Workplace (WinSETT Centre)

• Implicit and Unconscious Bias in the SETT Workplace (WinSETT Centre)

• Becoming a Leader (University of Calgary, Faculty of Engineering)

• Intersectionality (EngiQueers Canada)

There were over 500 attendees at the Policy Forum where two panels were held, which included prominent members of the community, Industry and Academic leaders and Provincial and Federal elected officials.  There were six parallel streams, each day for two days, with a total of 65 individual workshops, panel discussions, Keynote presenters and panels, and/or presentations (excluding Youth Program) covering all disciplines of SETT. Over 20 different companies and organizations presented during the conference including Stantec, Enbridge, BioWare, Women Building Futures, APEGA, the City of Edmonton, and Engineers Canada. Topics covered included mentorship and early education, leadership, the immigrant experience, entrepreneurship, non-linear career paths, NSERC Chairs for Women in Science and Engineering updates,  learnings from the 2017 Gender Summit, recruitment, and retention, and much more! Our closing banquet panel “Elevating the Leadership of Tomorrow”, which featured Kim Campbell.

An entire stream on Day 3 of the conference was dedicated to Indigenous Inclusivity. Speakers included prominent business and community leaders, Indigenous Elders and advocates. The sessions connected companies and individuals who actively support diversity and inclusion for Indigenous Peoples, shaping opportunities and industries, and

enabling reconciliation. The questions raised and answered: "How can we learn from and leverage their successes” and “How can we all flourish as a result”?

We also hosted a youth program. Our Indigenous Youth Engagement stream was held on Day 2 of the conference sessions to provide opportunities for urban Indigenous Youth to engage with relatable mentors, see the change that they can become to their communities and world, imagine themselves being this change, and connect

with resources to enable their pathways. Fifty-three Indigenous Youth from the Edmonton area attended, both boys and girls.  Supplemental programming instilled pride in Indigenous Culture with Hoop Dancers and accomplished Elders and Indigenous Mentors.  The Youth Program was held on Day 3 in partnership with DiscoverE from the University of Alberta, which included ~50 boys and girls from grades 1 through 9. From the Youth Essay competition for Grades 10-12 girls, four high school girls were selected to attend Day 3 of the conference. Lastly, 75 University of Alberta Engineering and Science student volunteers had their attendance at the conference sponsored.

As a summary of the CCWESTT2018 conference, we have generated the Policy Forum Report https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PRE3-zKQRtOiFHf33qjKKzwmDSVwZR8h/view?usp=sharing and Proceedings https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E0SmgMSfIlP0AKPidP6aE5iwBmHSNQtB/view?usp=sharing. 

Thank you, again, for supporting diversity and inclusion in SETT. Please contact Neemee Batstone, Chair of CCWESTT (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), if you'd like more information about the CCWESTT2020 Conference.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Best,

Lianne Lefsrud and Anjum Mullick,

Co-Chairs CCWESTT2018.

Made-in-Canada Athena SWAN Consultation

Informational briefings on a "made in Canada" approach to an Athena SWAN initiative are being held through to September. The briefings will cover the basic objectives and logistics of the model, implementation process, and answer questions from participants. To learn more and sign up, see below, or refer to the information briefings page.

NSERC will be hosting workshops on the creation of an Athena SWAN - type award initiative in Canada in various cities across the country from September 24 to October 4, 2018. Details on locations and dates are:

British Columbia: Vancouver, Monday, September 24, 2018, at University of British Columbia

Alberta: Calgary, Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at the University of Calgary

Manitoba: Winnipeg, Thursday, September 27, 2018, at the University of Manitoba

Quebec: Montreal, Monday, October 1, 2018, at Université du Québec à Montréal

Atlantic: Halifax, Wednesday, October 3, 2018, at Dalhousie University

Ontario: Toronto, Thursday, October 4, 2018, at York University

Register at your earliest convenience but before Friday, September 21, 2018. Meetings are scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

International Women in Engineering Day is June 23, 2018

International Women in Engineering Day is an international awareness campaign to raise the profile of women in engineering and focuses attention on the amazing career opportunities available to girls in this exciting industry. It celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers throughout the world. Once again in 2018, we are under UNESCO patronage.  

Taking place annually on 23 June, it's your day, so get involved! In 2018, the INWED 2018 theme of 'Raising The Bar'. @INWED1919 #INWED18 #RaisingTheBar

For more information, visit: http://www.inwed.org.uk/

CCWESTT Past President Dr. Liette Vasseur appointed to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO

The Canada Council for the Arts is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Liette Vasseur as President and Mireille Apollon as Vice-President of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCUNESCO). They will take up these roles in June and September 2018 respectively.

The announcement was made today by Simon Brault, Director and CEO of the Canada Council, during the Commission’s Annual General Meeting. Since its creation in 1957, the CCUNESCO has been operating under the authority of the Canada Council for the Arts. An Executive Committee composed of representatives from civil society and government stakeholders oversees CCUNESCO’s activities and provides strategic guidance.

Simon Brault seizes the opportunity to thank Dr. Christina Cameron and Danika Billie Littlechild, the outgoing President and Vice-President, for their outstanding support over the past couple of years.

Read the full Press Release HERE.