(Victoria, B.C. – May 25, 2024) The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) is pleased to announce funding received through Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE)’s Women’s Economic and Leadership Opportunities Fund. CCWESTT’s project Changing the Narrative: A Pathway for Systemic Change in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology has been approved for funding up to $1,307,067 over 2 years. This project will address barriers to gender inclusion in science, engineering, trades and technology (SETT).
This project scaling is designed to change the narrative around workplace culture and, through facts and data, show that gender equality does not exist in SETT workplaces across Canada, opening the way for a national conversation for equitable change.
Funding under this call supports the scaling of successful systemic change projects to expand their reach and impact. This funding allows CCWESTT to expand the work of their recent project funded by the WAGE Feminist Response and Recovery Fund to address gaps and barriers to women and gender diverse people’s economic security and prosperity.
“Addressing systemic barriers that prevent the retention of women and gender diverse people in SETT is imperative to their full participation in the labour force.” says Kim Bouffard, President of CCWESTT Board of Directors. “This new funding will allow CCWESTT to expand the impact of our systemic change work around workplace culture and open the way for a national conversation for equitable change.”
Scaling these efforts will create a central resource for the Canadian status of gender equality in SETT. Objectives are designed to inspire the SETT community to advocate for systemic change at the company, organization, and legislative levels.
“We know that there are still far too many systemic barriers to achieving gender equality in the fields of science, engineering, trades, and technology. This is a gender equality issue as well as an economic issue, as it limits women’s economic opportunity and participation. The efforts being made by CCWESTT are key to inspiring action that drives inclusive growth, changes narratives, and addresses the root causes of gender inequality in SETT industries and institutions.” – The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth
About CCWESTT
Established in 1992, the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) is a voluntary, not-for-profit national coalition of individual members and groups from across the country who advocate for a diverse and inclusive Canadian Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (SETT) workforce. Collectively supporting over 500,000 people in our network, CCWESTT builds alliances and partnerships, acts as a resource hub, and advocates with a strong, unified voice.
For further information, interviews and images please contact:
Janet Dyson, CCWESTT Communications
communications@ccwestt.org; 902-499-1538
Media Relations
Women and Gender Equality Canada
819-420-6530
