b'Consultant and certified coach Jennie West-Correia of West Reach Development, based in Ottawa, wasWHATS UNIQUE IS ITS A SPACE FOR PREDOMINANTLY contracted through the consulting firm Stratford Group to design and deliverWOMEN TO COME TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE THE the course. With more than 24 years of experience in the industry, she hadLEARNING AND TO BE AROUND OTHER FEMALE initially connected with WiMC through the Ottawa Construction Association andCOUNTERPARTS, AND IF THERE ARE MEN THERE, THEY was a speaker at MCACs most recentARE SUPPORTING THE PROCESS. Emerging Leaders Conference.Im pretty passionate about this topic- JENNIE WEST-CORREIAand this fundamental belief that core leadership principles dont change with a man and with a woman. When I teach leadership, the concerns that women bring up tend to be the same as young men who are just entering leadershipthey may be afraid to speak up or to make the wrongPLUMBERS &decision, says West-Correia.MCAC didnt restrict the course just toPIPEFITTERS UNIONPLUMBERS &women, so we did have quite a few men attend too, she says. Whats unique isPIPEFITTERS UNIONits a space for predominantly womenLocal 488Local 488to come together to experience thePLUMBERS &learning and to be around other female counterparts, and if there are men there,PIPEFITTERS UNIONthey are supporting the process.West-Correia says that one challengeLocal 488of this type of session is deciding how to fit all the potential content into just four modules in a digestible format, while still allowing enough time for participants to converse and share theirCommitted to Quality,own knowledge. One of her strategies is to ensure that participants have specificCommitted to Quality,questions and topics to think aboutSafety & Educationbetween sessions.For instance, Elevated leaders areSafety & Educationstrategic and intentional, she says, soCommitted to Quality,participants are encouraged to identifyPhone: (780) 452-7080 Fax: (780) 452-1291their measures of success and considerSafety & Educationhow they are creating conditions of16214 - 118th Avenue, Edmonton, Albertasuccess for their people. Phone: (780) 452-7080 Fax: (780) 452-1291I think its really important that large Phone: (780) 452-7080 Edmonton, Albertaorganizations like MCAC, the Ottawa16214 - 118th Avenue, Fax: (780) 452-1291Construction Association and the Toronto Construction Association focus16214 - 118th Avenue, Edmonton, Albertaon providing support and resources around women in our industry, and IBusiness Manager - Rod McKaythink the ones that are going to have the most success are the ones that wont be providing these supports in isolation from men, because women in construction arent working in isolation,West-Correia says. Business Manager - Rod McKayBusiness Manager - Rod McKayThe conversation is the start. The implementation and the change happen when theyre back out in the field.NATIONAL BULLETIN | Issue 1, 2024 17'