b'CONSTRUCTION PRIORITIES: WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTIONTOGETHER,WE RISETCA AND CAWIC COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS, BARRIERS ANDTHE FUTURE FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION By Sarah B. HoodITS ONLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARSmember and TCAs Young ConstructionIt isnt just because theyre women; its that Ontario employers have beenLeaders chair. The panellists werebecause theyre leaders and they have required to provide female constructionLauren Gibson, project managerstories and insights to share, says TCA workers with properly fitted work clothingfor PCL; Nisha Jeyathas, director ofpresident and CEO John Mollenhauer. and PPE, women-only washrooms andpreconstruction and estimating atTheyre generation leaders in an on-site menstrual products: seeminglyMultiplex Canada; Melissa Ruck, projectindustry that requires the best of the simple solutions to barriers for womenmanager for Gillam Group; and Leahbest to make a difference.in construction that nonetheless took aTraviss, operations manager, buildings long time coming. division with Rutherford Contracting Ltd. Further, he says, If you, as an employer, want to go from good to great, you have In May, the TCA and the CanadianCAWIC is approaching our 20th year,to let the best lead and do well for the Association of Women in Constructionand TCA has been an avid supporter.greater good of their projects and the (CAWIC) held a sold-out panel discussionThis event was to celebrate theindustry. Our projects are becoming with industry leaders celebratingaccomplishments weve made together,infinitely more complicated, and we have progress, sharing challenges andsays Buratynski. an untapped resource here that we can looking towards the future of women incapitalize on.construction. Titled Together, We Rise: Celebrating Women in Construction, theThese were a diverse group of womenThe event was as memorable for the session brought forward personal storiesthat members of both TCA and CAWICpanellists as it was for the attendees.from a remarkable group of panellists. can relate to, she says. Working moms,In addition to listening to my co-women managing multi-million-dollarpanellists and their experiences, some of The session leader was Luanaprojects, staying true to their voice,the standout moments from the session Buratynski, business developmentbringing confidence into their leadershipwere hearing from women who have product specialist with Bothwell Accurateroles: theyre great role models for been in the industry for more than 25 Co. Inc., who is also a CAWIC boardother women. or 30 years, how they have navigated 22Quarter 22025 BUILDERSDIGEST'