Achieve Anything Foundation

The Achieve Anything Foundation (AAF) was formed to develop and implement year-round projects and programs of lasting value towards inspiring female future leaders in STEM, and STEM-based fields such as Aviation, Aerospace, Marine and Defence. AAF inspires women with hands on experience from shop floor to top floor, to what many perceive as “non-traditional” fields for women, including sailing and flying. AAF offers unique programs including The Sky’s No Limit – Girls Fly Too! signature annual events to create a lasting impression in the minds of our target female audience.

TAGS:

Mentorship

Actua

Actua provides training, resources and support to its national network of members located at universities and colleges across Canada in the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach programming. Actua is Canada’s largest STEM outreach organization inspiring future innovators. Each year, these members engage over 460,000 youth in 600 communities nationwide. In BC, Actua network members include Coast Mountain College, Thompson Rivers University’s EUReKA! Science Program, Simon Fraser University (Science AL!VE), University of Victoria (Science Venture), University of British Columbia (Geering Up Engineering Outreach), and University of Northern BC (UNBC Active Minds).

TAGS:

Indigenous Engagement • Post-Secondary Resources • Outreach Programming

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Anxiety Canada

Anxiety Canada™ is a leader in developing free online, self-help, and evidence-based resources on anxiety. A registered charity and non-profit organization, Anxiety Canada was established more than twenty years ago to raise awareness about anxiety, and to support access to proven resources and treatment.

We are the developers of the award-winning free MindShift™ CBT app for iOS and Android devices, which helps Canadians manage anxiety using scientifically proven strategies.

We also serve Canadians by developing services and programs they can trust, including our online directory (Finding Help), and our online courses (My Anxiety Plans).

TAGS:

Mental Health

Athena Pathways

Athena Pathways is a partnership of academia, government and industry to educate women in the science and commercialization of artificial intelligence. The Athena Pathways project will help more Canadian women see the potential of the tech sector helping support Canadian tech companies fill job vacancies and, in turn, become more competitive while addressing the gender gap in AI. Women are underrepresented in AI technology, and diversity is critical for accurate models. One of Athena Pathways goals is to address this gender bias.

TAGS:

Education • Scholarships • Mentorship

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BC Women in Technology (BCWiT)

Women in Technology (BCWiT) Team is a core group of women, members of Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTTBC), representing various disciplines in the technology field.

BCWiT recognizes that it is critical to capture the interest of your girls at a younger age with hands on events and focused career counselling. Their mission is to provide support, be an information resource and promote awareness to women in technology careers and to women seeking new career opportunities.

TAGS:

ASTTBC • Mentorship • Networking for Advancing Career • Professional Development • Networking for Social Reasons

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Bounce Back

BounceBack® is a free skill-building program designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered online or over the phone with a coach, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.

TAGS:

Mental Health

Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology

The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology (CCWESTT) is a leader for and a voice of a national community for women in Science, Engineering, Trades and Technology (SETT). As a national organization made up of individuals, groups, institutions and industries, CCWESTT builds alliances and partnerships which support and celebrate a diverse SETT workforce. CCWESTT’s mission is to expand the attraction, retention and promotion of women in the engineering, trades and technology workforces. From education, to retention and leadership, CCWESTT’s goal is to empower and support women who study and work in these fields through conferences, professional development opportunities, building networks and mentorship relationships, and being a voice for women in SETT in Canada.

TAGS:

Industry Resources • Employer Resources • Networking for Advancing Career • Networking for Social Reasons

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Women in Engineering & Geoscience Division

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Women in Engineering is a community that encourages and promotes women at all levels in engineering and geoscience. Its mission is to build a strong and supportive community to connect, attract, promote, retain, and advocate for women in engineering and geoscience.
Engineers and Geoscientists BC Women in Engineering puts on events aimed towards women engineers. They also organize a monthly book club. Books are selected based on participant interest and relevance to women in engineering and geoscience. Sessions are hosted via video conference to allow members across the province to participate.

TAGS:

Champion Perspective • Networking for Advancing Career • Networking for Social Reasons • Professional Development

CHAMPION PERSPECTIVE:

Katie-Au

Katie Au
Project Manager & Partner, BBA Engineering

LinkedIn Profile

Katie started volunteering as a member of Engineers and Geoscientists BC in a mentorship role and wanted to have a bigger impact on the community so she joined the Executive Team of the Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division (WIEG), a community that encourages and promotes women at all levels in engineering and geoscience.

Through WIEG experiences, Katie shared that she has gained many skills in the areas of board governance, communication, and leadership. She feels volunteering has given her an opportunity to speak up and voice her opinion to make impact in her community. If you want to learn more you can get in touch with her on LinkedIN.

Michelle-Blake

Michelle Blake
Vice President & Resources Business Group Director at HDR

LinkedIn Profile

Michelle started volunteering as a mentor with a program called Women in Leadership Foundation (WIL) and participating in Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Women in Engineering and GeoScience Division. She became more focused on promoting woman in engineering by volunteering as a presenter/panelist to many groups, including schools, STEM programs, Science World, and universities, as well as attending UBC Alumni events. Her experiences gave her insight on how to speak with young women about careers in the engineering field, for example, she noted that women tend to prefer collaboration instead of competition and elitism.

Michelle has worked in male dominated sectors for several companies and has participated in formal equity programs in addition to informally advocating for equality in the workplace. In her workplace, she actively supports diversity and inclusion initiatives, including mentorship and sponsoring regional D&I groups. The highlight of Michelle’s career was recently she was approached by three women from the engineering sector, with no program affiliation, who asked her to be their mentor.

The one piece of advice Michelle emphasized was no matter how much time you have, it is important to give back to women in the sector; get out and volunteer – the rewards are enormous.

Engineers Canada Women in Engineering

Engineers Canada has created the 30 by 30 initiate, a national program with the goal of raising the percentage of women who are newly licensed engineers to 30% by the year 2030. Thirty per cent is universally held as the tipping point for sustainable change—reaching 30 by 30 will help drive the shift in the overall membership of the engineering profession as more and more women continue to enter the profession.

Engineers Canada has long fostered collaboration with engineering regulators and other engineering stakeholders to work collectively and share authority, decision-making, and accountability to reach 30 by 30. Engineers Canada facilitates the work of the 30 by 30 Champions network, facilitates data collection and distribution on the composition of the profession, and advocates to the federal government on issues relevant to women in engineering. The program focuses on barriers to entry and retention for women in the profession.

TAGS:

Champion Perspective • Industry Resources • Employer Resources • Networking for Advancing Career • Networking for Social Reasons • Professional Development

CHAMPION PERSPECTIVE:

Anne-Simonen

Anja Lanz
Design Engineer, EIT

LinkedIn Profile

I am participating in key leadership roles in many committees and organizations. I sit on advisory boards and steering committees, participate or lead initiatives, and be an active contributing member. I also act as a mentor to those that are interested in learning from others.

My professional career in STEM is independent from my community involvements. However, I have always been able to find employers that value my extra curricular community work.

I have been able to become involved in some amazing projects and have been nominated for committees or initiatives, for which others appreciate the expertise that I bring.

We need to build a critical mass to advance women in engineering and technology. So far, the work rests on a few organizations and individuals that put in their energy and time. All of us can definitely use more input and support, and since we all value diversity, that is actually only achieved if more come forward and join groups and organizations, and become partners in the goal to advance women in engineering and technology. We also need to bridge to more men as goal sharers. Without collaboration across genders, we don’t move forward.

EUReKA! Thompson Rivers University

EUReKA! Science Program is a non-profit student run organization based out of Thompson Rivers University. The program offers workshops, summer camps and community events aimed at elementary school children. Topics cover engineering, human biology and chemistry. The EUReKA! Science Program is a proud network member of Actua, a national network of like-minded programs. Actua provides training, resources and support to its national network of members located at universities and colleges across Canada in the delivery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education outreach programming.

TAGS:

Elementary School Resources • Speaking to youth in community organizations or schools • Post-secondary resources