May 9, 2024, University of the Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia
Roughly 90 participants met in a hybrid meeting format to discuss options for future alternatives to the Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (EGBC) Women in Engineering and Geoscience Division (WiEG), having been discontinued due to a recent re-interpretation of advocacy within the Professional Governance Act (PGA).
After providing background information on the history of advocacy for women in engineering and geoscience – specifically, DAWEG past and present, EGBC divisions and the upcoming discontinuation of regional EGBC branches – in-person attendees participated in a healthy discussion on potential paths forward. Online attendees had opportunities to briefly engage, however the focus was on Victoria DAWEG participants and the Victoria EGBC Branch who have been instrumental in leading this initiative.
General consensus is that the DAWEG-Victoria group, working for the Development and Advancement of Women in Engineering and Geoscience, should
- continue as a central information hub for all women’s advocacy bodies active in BC;
- work to ensure the psychological safety of its members
- be open to quickly respond to the needs of women in engineering and geoscience.
Background
BC’s Professional Governance Act (PGA) regulates activities of Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) and five other regulatory bodies.
EGBC assessed its programs in 2020 for compliance with the PGA. In 2023, EGBC reassessed its programs within a broader definition of advocacy resulting in the closure of all its divisions in December 2023, and the closure of all 15 regional branches by December 2024.
Recognizing the importance of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives and the Truth & Reconciliation process, the EGBC Board established an EDIT&R Working Group, which may include a sub-working group focussed on women in engineering and geoscience.
Event Discussions
While the organizers developed several discussion points, the purpose of this event was to draw out the needs, opinions and interests of the engineers and geoscientists gathered. Using the fishbowl process, four participants engaged in a moderated conversation about the future of activities focused on advocating for the successful inclusion and belonging of women in the professions. As observers felt called to participate in the conversation, they were invited to replace the participants in the fishbowl.
Several themes arose from the conversations held during the event. These themes are encapsulated below.
The market has many groups seeking to support Women in STEM, is another needed?
Although there are many groups operating in this space, most of them are not active at the local or regional level. These groups include but are not limited to:
- Women in Science and Engineering, WiSE)
- the Society of Canadian Women in Science and Technology, SCWIST
- the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Technology, CCWESTT
- Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, WWEST
- Women in Construction, WiC
- Women in Consulting Engineering, WCE
- Island Women in Science and Technology (iWIST) and
- Women in Construction, WIC
Some of these groups operate in the Lower Mainland, some only in Victoria, while in many parts of the province there are no active groups of any kind.
The consensus was that DAWEG has the opportunity to be the networking apex for the province, hosting a calendar that could be accessible to all and that could encourage inter-communication between the groups.
Should DAWEG temporarily exist until BCSEG is underway?
A lively conversation occurred around the role of DAWEG going forward. There was considerable support in the room for DAWEG to continue in the Victoria Region and as a central contact for events hosted by other provincial and national organizations active in the province. However, online participants were unable to engage with the conversation, so their comments could not be captured regarding the usefulness of DAWEG off-island.
Some discussion ensued around whether DAWEG should exist independently of BCSEG, or still be affiliated in order to access BCSEG membership lists, promotional and advertising reach, and finance processes. However, it is unclear without further research whether this is a desirable approach.
Regardless of direction, the group will always need volunteers. Perhaps having a separate society provides more freedom, but would have fewer resources and would not have access to BCSEG or EGBC mailing lists (EGBC has already committed to publishing BCSEG events).
How can DAWEG ensure the safety of its members?
Being engineers and geoscientists, the conversation occasionally became more pragmatic as we explored the ethics and integrity of operating as a distinct body.
In other words, is it correct to think that groups formed to advance the voices and needs of under-represented humans in certified professions might be in need of some form of verification? Simply, women will need to be assured that the group they are joining has some legitimacy. What are the ethical risks? How are individual rights protected?
Much of the assistance, support, and advice offered in advocacy groups is conducted because of individual needs expressed through their willingness to be vulnerable. For this reason, it is vital that we provide psychological safety – safe spaces.
How could DAWEG operate as a central information site?
Several ideas came up through discussions following the general consensus that daweg.ca should continue acting as a central communications hub for all related and relevant provincial and national groups advocating for the betterment of working as female leaders.
- A group and/or society could register and submit events for a common events calendar [one currently exists on daweg.ca; check it out here] which can be populated by administrators.
- Have polls for those that sign up to participate in – taking the pulse of the members and getting ideas for speakers etc.
It is unlikely that EGBC will provide information on other provincial groups supporting women in engineering and geoscience: they have not done so in the past.As far as being a verified group, consensus is to at minimum be endorsed by BCSEG and EGBC.
Which activities should DAWEG take on?
Some discussion focused on the types of activities currently managed under the DAWEG banner. These include:
- Lunches: these are popular as are the annual WiEG breakfasts. Younger attendees who spoke up appreciated the ability to connect with older women who also attend: there is always a good mix of demographics at the lunches.
- Branch events: it would be good to continue providing outreach programs to schools that raise awareness of eng/geo careers
- Meetups and presentations: organized meetings to discuss issues of bias and inclusion, networking, mentoring, newsletter, connections
- Social events: it was noted that a broad experience-range tends to participate in Victoria events, while mostly younger women participate in Vancouver. This may be due to the individuals involved in organizing events (Bridget and Kath), however does speak to the need for diversity in membership and in activities.
Participation
It is our honour to list the womens’ advocacy bodies that attended this event. Of note, we had members from the following organizations:
- Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia ( https://www.egbc.ca/ )
- Victoria Branch, Engineers & Geoscientists BC
- University of British Columbia
- University of Victoria
- BC Society for Engineers and Geoscientists – BCSEG
- Women in Consulting Engineering – WCE (information slides at bottom of deck)
- Island Women in Science & Technology (IWiST)
- EDI in UBC Engineering (Sheryl Staub-French)
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