38 UPWORD www.winnipegconstruction.ca W ith construction still predominately a man’s world, the benefits of diversifying the skyline may be getting lost in the rubble. According to BuildForce Canada, women represent a mere 12 per cent of the country’s total construction workforce. Fortunately, some of the men propelling the industry into a prosperous future have been chipping away at the gender barriers, helping to build a balanced environment and supporting female colleagues via mentorship, employment and education. Having welcomed four female representatives to the 2017 Board of Directors – the largest number to collectively serve on the board in its history – Winnipeg Construction Association has long been an advocate for diversification in the industry.Through sponsorships such as MCWESTT (Manitoba Community for Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology conference) and initiatives including Manitoba Women in Construction (MWC) and the Manitoba Construction Career Expo, WCA is committed to promoting the recruitment and retainment of women in the workforce. “Industry leaders have a major role in encouraging the improvement in diversity and consistently setting this expectation for their organizations, but it has to be based on merit,” notes WCA Chair Andy Dutfield of Lafarge Canada Inc. “The conditions for achieving this are improving all the time as more and more women enter construction-related learning institutions. Taking responsibility for employing young women at the start of their careers and giving them good training and challenging assignments to build their experience and self-confidence is a way to strengthen the pool of women in our industry.” MWC has received keen involvement from influential men in the industry who are sponsoring and championing its success. Teri Urban, MWC Chair and Safety Coordinator at Parkwest Projects Ltd., attributes this progress to the growing group of leaders who have observed the benefits of having women in a variety of construction roles. “This industry desperately needs women as they offer a completely different perspective than men,”explains Urban,“I believe that our industry … is progressive and accepting of women; we just need a little education and awareness to make the construction industry attract and retain more women.” Extending an Invitation With men occupying most senior positions in construction companies,male mentors are integral to success. Their presence at events is invaluable as it provides insight, allows a closer look at obstacles and fosters open dialogue. Although Urban proudly states that not a single MWC event has seen an all-female attendance,she emphasizes the importance of reaching out to more men, explaining that some men may feel intimidated attending events geared towards women. “The biggest way men can be influential and involved … is by gaining a better understanding of the challenges that women face in an industry that has been historically dominated by men,” says Urban. “I’m talking about understanding that women have different needs than men: working while pregnant, children to nurture, (and) a lack of female co-workers and mentors.” Urban suggests recruiting and hiring women for positions that they would never have been considered for, attending the Building HER Story event to hear the moving stories of women who have overcome obstacles and Construction EmpowHERment By Katerina Selezen Behind every successful woman in construction are a few good men