b'CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES:WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTIONindustry must do more to attract and retain women to the industry.Among other potential collaborators is the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA), which has a National Women in Roofing (NWiR) council; its four pillars are mentoring, education, networking and recruiting. Similarly, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) has a Women in Mechanical Contracting (WiMC) Committee that offers a mentorship program, a scholarship for female apprentices and a Virtual Leadership Development Program.The WiMC also lobbies for better access to PPE for female workers; a 2022 report approach, he says. We need moreWith the help of the committeefrom the CSA Group, Canadian Womens people to compensate for all of the babymembers, TCA will be looking at whatExperiences with Personal Protective boomers that are going to retire. Anythinginitiatives the organization might usefullyEquipment in the Workplace, found that that we can do to help make a difference,pursue to further this priority. For58 per cent of women in construction we will do. instance, says Mollenhauer should wehave used PPE that doesnt fit them, sponsor an event? What should we doand 28 per cent do without some PPE The formation of a new committee isto partner with organizations like CAWICbecause what they have is thecertainly not TCAs first step into this[the Canadian Association of Women wrong size.arena. For instance, most recently,in Construction]? Heres an industry that has historically Young Construction Leaders assembledbeen primarily men, and now were an all-star team consisting of projectCAWIC is a not-for-profit organizationbeginning to see more women at the management leader Lisa Dyck of JLLdedicated to the success of womenfront end that become architects and Canada, Denise Flemming of EllisDon;in the construction industry; it hasengineers, but we still have very few Carolina Miranda of Westbank and Katyaa strong focus on mentorship towomen in the trades, and we need Shabnova of Cushman Wakefield for aincrease employment, awareness andwomen everywhere, says Mollenhauer.sold-out panel discussion on Women indevelopment for women at all stages Real Estate and Construction, chairedof their careers. In March of 2024,We want to attract women because by Caitlin Turner of HOK, to celebrateCAWIC released the findings of an onlinetheyre capable and can make a genuine International Womens Day in March 2024. survey of 1,500 members of the Angusdifference, he says. It will be an Mollenhauer says that one point that reallyReid Forum. It found that 73 per centopportunity missed if we dont attract stood out for him from that discussion wasof women agree that the constructionmore women.the idea that young women may not be comfortable presenting themselves for job openings unless they feel confident that they already possess all the required skills, whereas young men tend to be more likely to try for the job even though they know they havent yet achieved allthe qualifications.WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO COMPENSATE FOR I really felt I learned a great deal from the panel discussions. I was disappointed that there werent more men in the audience;ALL OF THE BABY BOOMERS THAT ARE GOING TO I think we have to get more men into the room, he says. The new Women inRETIRE. ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO HELP MAKE Construction Committee, which is expected to be put in place in late 2024, wouldA DIFFERENCE, WE WILL DO.function as a brain trust to give us counsel and advice on what strategies to employ,- TCA president and CEO John Mollenhauerhow to help employers better understand what they can do to attract more women into construction and what to do as an employer to retain these enormously valuable assets.24Quarter 22024 BUILDERSDIGEST'